It’s been a little over a year since the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade, a decision that took personal autonomy and rights away from millions of Americans. Kamala Harris, the vice president, is mobilizing young voters to maintain pressure for congressional legislation to protect abortion rights.
Harris highlights the importance of this topic and the critical role young voters have in expanding reproductive freedom in an exclusive conversation with Teen Vogue.
Harris’s Pursuit for Change
Vice President Harris has taken a personal interest in the far-reaching effects of an “activist” court’s decision to curb reproductive rights throughout the country ever since the Dobbs vs. Jackson Women’s Health Organization judgment.
In order to grasp the depth of the problem, she has traveled widely over the last year, meeting with physicians, patients, families, and policymakers. Harris made a powerful address in Charlotte, North Carolina, on the anniversary of the decision, providing a new context for the ongoing struggle to defend abortion rights at the national and state levels.
Exclusive Interview with Teen Vogue
After giving her speech, Harris spoke to Teen Vogue about the significance of doing an exclusive interview with the magazine to mark the occasion. Harris highlighted the leadership potential of Teen Vogue’s readers while explaining her decision to work with the magazine.
Harris said she had faith in Teen Vogue’s readership to make a difference, in contrast to the “extremist so-called leaders” she noted in her speech who lobby for restrictions despite broad public support for abortion access. Teen Vogue readers, she said, had already shown their potential as leaders by showing interest in the magazine.
The Vice President emphasized the importance of young voters, praising their participation in the political process, unique viewpoints, and collective power to shape the country’s future.
The Congressional Landscape
Harris acknowledged the difficulties pro-choice lawmakers have in Congress and spoke about the likely outcomes of enacting federal legislation to safeguard abortion rights. Republican leaders in the House of Representatives and the thin Democratic majority in the Senate have blocked Democratic attempts to propose similar legislation.
Harris was questioned by Teen Vogue about the skepticism of young people who believe that the bill has no chance of passing because of the filibuster and Senator Joe Manchin’s influence.