NJ Planned Parenthood Holds Montclair Rally: 'Murphy In 2021'

MONTCLAIR, NJ — The Planned Parenthood Action Fund of New Jersey threw its weight behind Gov. Phil Murphy’s re-election bid during a rally in Montclair on Monday.

The governor appeared with representatives of Planned Parenthood Action Fund of New Jersey, supporters and elected officials at Glenfield Park to make the announcement (watch the video below).

“New Jersey is stronger and fairer when everyone, in every corner of the state, is guaranteed full access to critical family planning and reproductive health care services,” Murphy said, thanking the nonprofit for its support.

“With the steadfast support of Planned Parenthood, we've restored funding and expanded access to affordable, compassionate care for thousands of New Jerseyans, including our most vulnerable,” Murphy said. “I am honored to receive Planned Parenthood Action Fund’s endorsement today, and know we'll continue to stand together to protect and advance reproductive freedom for all.”

According to a statement from Planned Parenthood, here are some milestones that took place during Murphy’s first term:

• “Restored family planning funding cut by the Christie administration”
• “Replaced the Title X funds blocked by the Trump-Pence administration’s authoritarian gag rule”
• “Recognized time-sensitive reproductive health care as essential”
• “Championed the Reproductive Freedom Act”

Board Chair Cory Neering urged those in attendance to keep up the fight for health care rights in New Jersey.

“In the middle of a pandemic, with the rights to abortion and accessible health care under attack at the highest levels of government, now is the time more than ever when we must not only protect, but expand access to essential service,” Neering said.

• See related article: New Jersey Sees Renewed Push For 'Reproductive Freedom Act'

Liliana Alcaide, a Planned Parenthood volunteer, said the replacement of Title X funds hit home on a personal level.

“The Trump-Pence Administration imposed the unethical gag rule on Title X funding so that abortion providers were forced out of the program, but Gov. Murphy and the New Jersey legislature restored it,” Alcaide said.

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