Press Release
National Partnership Supports BREATHE DAY, a Day of Action Coordinated by the Movement for Black Lives

Today, the National Partnership for Women & Families joins allies in support of BREATHE DAY. This day of action is a push to move the conversation forward on social justice and elevates calls to defund the police and re-invest resources towards building healthy, sustainable and equitable communities.

The Partnership along with allies are specifically advocating for forthcoming federal legislation, the BREATHE Act, that will promote racial justice and ensure all communities may thrive regardless of their racial makeup, the population of immigrants or how high their median income.

“Black and Brown individuals have been forced to carry the weight of white supremacy for too long. Today, we proudly stand with the Movement for Black Lives who are leading the charge in support of BREATHE Day, “ said Erika L. Moritsugu, Vice President for Congressional Relations/Economic Justice for the National Partnership for Women & Families. “We also strongly support the BREATHE Act which is a new approach to investing in keeping communities safe, championed by Representatives Ayanna Pressley and Rashida Tlaib. The redistribution of resources into community programs and out of the hands of law enforcement will help create a safer and more just society.”

The day’s events included discussions on Breonna Taylor’s case; an Instagram Live event on the Breathe Act, and discussions on the importance of Black voices in the 2020 election.

The BREATHE Act would:

  • Divest federal resources from incarceration and policing.
  • Invest in new, non-punitive, non-carceral approaches to community safety that lead states to shrink their criminal-legal systems and center the protection of Black lives—including Black mothers, Black trans people, and Black women.
  • Allocate new money to build healthy, sustainable, and equitable communities.
  • Hold political leaders to their promises and enhance the self-determination of all Black communities.

The BREATHE Act will also include important paid leave provisions to support families’ economic well-being. The proposal provides all workers with 18 weeks of paid family and medical leave to take care of a newborn child, or newly adopted or placed child. This leave can also be used to take care of a family member or loved one with a serious medical condition; to treat or recover from one’s own serious health condition; or to take the time needed as a result of domestic violence, sexual assault, or stalking. These provisions, and others laid out in the BREATHE Act, are fundamental to racial equity and economic justice.

Learn more about BREATHE Day here and the BREATHE Act here.

For more information, contact us:

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National Partnership Media Line
(202) 986-2600
press@nationalpartnership.org

About the National Partnership for Women & Families

The National Partnership for Women & Families is a nonprofit, nonpartisan advocacy group dedicated to promoting fairness in the workplace, reproductive health and rights, access to quality, affordable health care and policies that help all people meet the dual demands of work and family.

More information is available at NationalPartnership.org.

For general inquiries, please email press@nationalpartnership.org.