In 1916, Margaret Sanger opened the first birth control clinic, which was shut down after just 10 days. Since then, progressive organizations and activists have worked tirelessly to ensure that reproductive rights, which now include abortion access, emergency contraception, comprehensive sex education and more, remain protected. At the forefront of that work is Planned Parenthood, which was founded by Sanger in 1921.

On the September 21 episode of “The Progressive Happy Hour,” co-hosts Drew Courtney and Cici Battle sit down with Kelley Robinson, national organizing director for Planned Parenthood, to discuss her work as an organizer, her personal thoughts on Dr. Christine Blasey Ford’s allegations against Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh and how activists can support sexual assault survivors.

Robinson shared that young activists are, “particularly motivated in this moment about what it means to fortify this fight for reproductive freedom.” She explained, “Our job at Planned Parenthood is to give young people the skills, tools, resources, and to make sure they can win campaigns locally that are in their own interest.”

Robinson also shared that despite moments like these that can be particularly difficult or traumatizing for activists and survivors, “we’re seeing stories of resilience … even in this dark era of politics that we’re in.” She also encouraged activists to work together across social issues to push for positive change: “It’s been a reminder to us as progressives that the only way we’re going to get free is if we get free together.”

To learn more about Planned Parenthood and Robinson’s work, you can visit plannedparenthood.org or follow Robinson on Twitter at @TheKelleyShow or on Instagram at @thekelleygram.

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