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When in the course of human events, it becomes necessary for a people to speak up and demand the equality they are rightfully entitled, a decent respect to the opinions of humankind requires that they should declare the causes that impel them to such a course.

 

We hold these truths to be self-evident: that all people are created equal; that they are endowed with certain inalienable rights; that among these are life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness; that to secure these rights governments are instituted, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed. Whenever any form of government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the right of those who suffer from it to hold accountable their representatives, and to insist that elected officials represent those who elected them: demanding that the duties of elected office are those which are most likely to preserve and promote a people’s safety and happiness. Prudence, indeed, will dictate that governments long established should not be changed for light and transient causes; and accordingly all experience hath shown that humankind is more disposed to suffer, while evils are sufferable, than to right themselves by abolishing the forms to which they are accustomed.

 

But when a long train of abuses and usurpations, pursuing invariably the same object, evinces a design to reduce them under absolute despotism, it is their duty to throw off such government, and to provide new guards for their future security. Such has been the patient sufferance of the women under this government, and such is now the necessity, which constrains them to demand the equal station to which they are entitled. The history of humankind is a history of repeated injuries and silencing of all who identify as women, having in direct object the establishment of an absolute tyranny over them. To prove this, let facts be submitted to a candid world.

 

Congress has not adequately addressed the lack of educational accessibility and resources of support for minorities of low socioeconomic backgrounds.

 

Congress has not corrected the disproportionate arrests, sentencing, and killing of low income people of color; has not ensured fair treatment of people of color and minorities in the criminal justice system; has perpetrated violence against prisoners by allowing privatization of public correctional facilities.

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Congress has made it difficult for citizens to affect change through voting due to unjust

Gerrymandering practices at the state level, upholding voter ID legislation that restricts citizens, and permitting discrimination against returning citizens.  

 

Congress has not enacted legislation that protects the rights of transgender individuals, particularly those of transgender youth, low-income transgender communities, and transgender people of color.

 

Congress has failed to make sexual identity and sexual orientation protected classes.

 

Congress has failed to make college more accessible and affordable.

 

Congress has made no strides in protecting undocumented immigrants living in-state from paying out-of-state tuition.

 

Congress has failed to ensure that people in all states have safe and equal access - regardless of income, race, ethnicity, location, education, cultural stigma, and other barriers - to all reproductive healthcare, including abortion.

 

Congress has failed to help pass legislation to alleviate the “double burden” women face between the workplace and the home.

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Congress has failed to implement policies targeting sexist microaggressions in the workplace.

 

Congress has not done its job to ensure that low-wage workers earn a livable wage.

 

Congress has not protected women’s access to knowledge about pay practices in the workplace.

 

Congress has neglected to properly define “disability” and “reasonable accommodation,” allowing institutions of higher education to discriminate against their students.

 

Congress has allowed the devaluation of people with disabilities’ labor.

 

Congress has not held educational institutions, at every level, accountable for teaching consent and sexual violence prevention; nor has Congress required institutions of higher education to be properly equipped to respond to victims and survivors of sexual violence.

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Because women do feel themselves aggrieved, oppressed, and fraudulently deprived of their most sacred rights, we insist that they have immediate admission to all the rights and privileges which belong to them as citizens of the United States.

 

Resolved by equitably allocating federal resources, such as budget planning, grant writing, and teacher-student support, to all neighborhoods regardless of their socioeconomic status and educational institution performance.

 

Resolved by ensuring police-community trust-building recommendations are in accordance with the White House 21st Century Report on Policing, regarding issues such as cultural sensitivity classes, community policing, and training.

 

Resolved by reevaluating law enforcement officials’ individual access to firearms taking into consideration officer’s history of violations, participation in diversity training and resources, and demonstration of cultural compassion.

 

Resolved by prohibiting corporations from privatizing federal and state prisons, as well as local level jails; and introducing legislation that improves standards and protocols for prisons.

 

Resolved by introducing and passing federal legislation that will ban the practice of Gerrymandering.

 

Resolved by passing voter equity and access legislation that will allow all citizens the unrestricted right to vote.

 

Resolved by recognizing and enforcing the rights of returning citizens to participate in public elections.

 

Resolved by introducing and passing legislation that protects transgender individuals against discrimination regarding public housing, employment, public resources and public health care, and ensure access to public facilities and birth certificate modification services.

 

Resolved by voting against laws that discriminate against the transgender community.

 

Resolved by amending Title VII to include sexual orientation and sexual identity as protected classes.

 

Resolved by passing legislation ensuring that community college is tuition free.

 

Resolved by ensuring all states allow in-state undocumented immigrants to pay in-state            tuition.

 

Resolved by reintroducing and supporting the expansion of refinancing programs to help students pay their loans.

 

Resolved by repealing the Hyde and Helms Amendments.

 

Resolved by federally subsidizing all family planning resources including health screenings and other services.

 

Resolved by developing a federal definition of an “undue burden” to which states must

adhere.

 

Resolved by passing Pay Transparency Act.

 

Resolved by instituting nationally mandated paid family leave and universal child care.

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Resolved by increasing minimum wage to $12 an hour.

 

Resolved by holding higher educational institutions accountable for publicizing resources and accommodations for students with disabilities, as well as remedying microaggressions against students with disabilities.

 

Resolved by ensuring the definition of “disability” includes short-term impairments.

 

Resolved by expanding coverage of the federal minimum wage to people with disabilities.

 

Resolved by incentivizing educational institutions to provide early and recurrent education to teach a foundation for healthy relationships.

 

Resolved by requiring all higher education institutions with medically staffed health centers to provide rape kits and process them without backlog, as well as have victim advocates available.

 

Resolved by mandating higher education institutions increase funding for sexual violence prevention and resources proportionate to the size of student populations.

 

In entering upon the great work before us, we anticipate no small amount of misconception, misrepresentation, and ridicule; but we shall use every instrumentality within our power to affect our object. We shall advocate before State and National Legislatures, we shall share our message through media, and shall continue this conversation on campuses and in communities across the nation. We hope this Platform Convention will be but the first of many opportunities for all young women to come together to advocate for our bodies, our lives, and our futures.

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