racism, empowering women and promoting peace, justice, freedom, and dignity for all.
DearFriends,
Asournationapproachesthe250thanniversaryofthefoundingoftheUnitedStates,we findourselvesatadefininganddeeplyconsequentialmomentinAmericanhistory The idealsuponwhichthiscountrywasbuilt:liberty,equality,justice,andrepresentationare onceagainbeingtested.
Acrossthecountry,legislativechanges,courtdecisions,andreneweddebatesaround votingaccessandredistrictingareraisingseriousconcernsaboutthefutureofvoting rightsandequitablerepresentationinAmerica Recentdevelopmentssurroundingthe weakeningofkeyprotectionswithintheVotingRightsActhaveintensifiedconversations aboutfairness,access,andthesharedresponsibilityweallhaveinsafeguarding democraticparticipation.
Democracyisnotguaranteed;itmustbeactivelyprotectedandstrengthenedbyevery generation Aswereflecton250yearsofAmericanhistory,wemustalsoacknowledgethat thepromiseofdemocracyhasnotalwaysbeenequallyaccessibletoallcommunities, particularlycommunitiesofcolor,women,immigrants,andhistoricallymarginalized populationswhosevoiceshavetoooftenbeenexcludedfromfullcivicparticipation
AtYWCAPrinceton,ourmissionofeliminatingracismandempoweringwomencompelsus toremainvigilant,informed,andengagedduringthiscriticalchapterinournation’sstory. Therighttovoteisfoundationaltojustice,equity,andfreedom,andhistoryremindsus thatprogressrequirescourage,advocacy,andcollectiveaction InthiseditionofVoicesfor Justice,weencourageourcommunitytostayinformed,speakup,advocateforequityand inclusion,andcontinueworkingtowardafuturewhereeveryvoiceisvalued,everyvoteis protected,andeverypersonisaffordeddignity,justice,andopportunity.
Yoursinsolidarity,
ChiefExecutiveOfficer
Midterm Primary Guide YWCA USA on the Southern Poverty Law Center Supreme Court Updates ...and What Comes Nect Stand Against Racism 2026 Your Reminder to Vote
Spotlight on New Jersey Congressional Primary Watch
Affectionatelyknownas“mid-terms”everyevenyear,thecountryvotesonall435 membersoftheHouseofRepresentatives.The435membersisbrokendownby populationamongstthe50statesbasedonthecensus.InNewJersey,wereceive12 representativeseachresponsibleforabout775,000constituentsbrokendowninto congressionaldistricts.InadditiontoallHouseofRepresentativesmembers,NewJersey willalsoholdastatewideelectionforaUSSenatorandcountlessmayoral,towncouncil, andcountycommissionerraces.Whilewecan’tprovideprofilesoneveryCongressional race,inourprimarycandidateguide,wehavecompiledinformationfortheCentralNew JerseyCongressionaldistricts.
Aquicknoteonhowtheinformationwascompiled.CrossreferencingwithBallotpedia, ourteamresearchedeachofthecandidatesrunningforUSSenateandCongressional districts3,4,6,7,and12.Wethenwenttoeachofthosecandidate’sofficialwebsitetopull theirinformation,link,andpicture.Ifthatinformationwasnotavailableontheirwebsites, wealsousedthecandidate’sofficialsocialchannelstoprovidesupplementalinformation, whichwasnotedandlinkedineachprofile.Candidatesarelistedalphabeticallyfirstby party,thenbycandidate’slastname.Asa501c(3)organization,weprideourselveson providingnonpartisanvoterinformation-wearenotconcernedwithwhoyouvotefor, justthatyoufeelempoweredandeducatedenoughtomakeyourdecisiononElection Day.
Wewillcontinuetoupdateourguideafterprimariesandbringyoumoredetailed informationoneachofthecandidatesthatwillappearonyourballotinNovember.Be suretovisitourVoterInformationHubthroughouttheelectionseasontostayuptodate onallthingselection!Hereyouwillfindlinkstocheckyourregistrationstatus,findyour pollingplace,contactyourfederalrepresentatives, understandtheresponsibilitiesof eachlevelofgovernment,andlearnmoreabout#YWomenVotethroughYWCAUSA’sbiannualcampaigndedicatedtowhatwomenaremostconcernedaboutandthepolicies wehopetoseeourelectedleadersprioritize.
View our Primary Guide
Stateme tchell in
OnMonday,Ap nouncedthat agrandjuryin g y, , g outhern PovertyLawCenter(SPLC).
Inresponse,YWCAUSACEOMargaretMitchellissuedthefollowingstatement:
“YWCAUSAstandsfirmlywiththeSouthernPovertyLawCenter(SPLC).
Formorethan50years,SPLChastrackedhate,defendedthevulnerableincourt,and helpedbuildthelegalinfrastructurethatprotectscivilrightsinthiscountry.Theirwork hassavedlives.
Anattackononecivilrightsorganizationisanattackontheentiremovement--andon everyonewhobelievesthatallpeopledeservedignity,equality,andsafety.
Thisindictmentcomesatamomentwhencommunitiesofcolor,immigrants,LGBTQ+ people,women,workers,peoplewithdisabilities,andArab,Muslim,andSouthAsian communitiesarelosingprotectionsthattookgenerationsofsacrificetowin.Wemustask ourselveswhatkindofcountrywewanttobe.YWCA'sanswerhasnotchangedin167 years,anditwillnotchangenow.
Today,westandinsolidaritywithSPLCandreaffirmourcommitmenttoourmissionand allthosewhodotheworktopursuetruthandjustice.
For167years,YWCAUSAhasworkedtoeliminateracismandempowerwomen.Ourwork –alongsidecivilrightspartnersacrossthenation–isatitsbestwhenwerisein partnership.”
What
ng ...
TheSupremeC roversial decisionscomi thisterm.
Louisiana v
InApril,theSupremeCourtruledthatLouisiana’srevisedcongressionalmapwas anunconstitutionalracialgerrymander.Thecasecenteredontheinteraction betweentheEqualProtectionClauseandSection2oftheVotingRightsAct,which prohibitsdistrictmapsthatweakenminorityvotingpower.AfterLouisianaredrew itscongressionalmapfollowingthe2020censusandcreatedasecondmajorityBlackdistrictinresponsetoearliercourtrulings,challengersarguedthenewmap reliedtooheavilyonrace.Thedecisionisalreadyinfluencingredistrictingefforts inseveralstatesaheadofthe2026midtermelections.
FirstChoiceWomen’sResourceCentersv.Davenport
InoneofthemorecloselywatchedFirstAmendmentandreproductivecasesof theterm, First Choice Women’s Resource Centers v. Davenport examinedwhether statescanrequirepubliclyfundedpregnancycenterstoprovideinformation aboutabortionserviceswithoutviolatingfreespeechprotections.Thecourt ultimatelyruledinfavorofthestatedecidingthatgovernmentsmaymandate certaindisclosureandinformationalrequirementstopubliclyfundedhealthcare andcounselingprograms.
MifepristoneEmergencyOrders
In FDA v. Alliance for Hippocratic Medicine (2024),theSupremeCourtrejectedthe challengetomifepristone(anFDAapprovedoralmedicationusedtoend pregnancy),meaningitdidnotruleonthedrug’slegalityandleftFDAapprovalin place.Sincethen,lowercourtshavecontinuedtohearrelatedchallenges involvingFDAregulationsontelehealthprescribing,maildistribution,and pharmacyaccess.Inresponsetopartsofthosecases,theSupremeCourthas issuedemergencystaysthathavepreservedexistingaccesstomifepristonewhile thelegaldisputescontinue.
Followingoral issue decisionsonth
Transgend
TherearetwoupcomingSupremeCourtcasesawaitingdecisionsthisyearafter oralargumentswerealreadyheld.Bothcasesaskwhetherstatelawsbanning transgendergirlsfromcompetingingirls’schoolsportsteamsviolatetheEqual protectionClauseandTitleIX. Little v. Hecox challengesIdaho’slawrestricting transgenderwomenandgirlsfromparticipatinginfemaleschoolsportswhile West Virginia v. B.P.J. challengesasimilarlawinWestVirginia.Thoughthecases aresimilar,themaindifferenceisthat Little v. Hecox involvesacollegeathlete while West Virginia v. B.P.J. focusesonK-12schoolsports.
ImmigrationandExecutive-PowerDisputes
Oneofthemostcloselywatchedimmigrationandexecutivepowerdisputes currentlymovingthroughthecourtsinvolvedchallengestoeffortstorestrict birthrightcitizenshipunderthe14 Amendment.Multiplelawsuitsfiledbycivil rightsorganizations,includingtheACLU,challengeaFebruary2025executive orderissuedbyPresidentTrumpthatseekstodenyautomaticcitizenshiptosome childrenbornintheUnitedStates.Theconversationisexpectedtotestthe constitutionallimitsofpresidentialauthorityovercitizenshipandimmigration policy.
GunRights
Walford v. Lopez isamajorSecondAmendmentcasethatexamineshowfarstates cangoinrestrictingwherepeoplemaylegallycarryfirearmsinpublic.Thecase targetsaHawaiilawthatgenerallyprohibitsconcealedcarryonprivateproperty opentothepublicunlessthepropertyownerspecificallyallowsit.Theoutcome couldsignificantlyshapegunlawsnationwidebyeitherstrengtheningstates’ abilitytodesignatebroadgun-freeareasorlimitingthoserestrictionsand expandingwherelawfulgunownerscancarryfirearmsinpublic.
Thursday May 28 | 6:30PM | YWCA Princeton (59 Paul Robeson Pl)
Join the YWCA Princeton as we come together for our annual Stand Against Racism Event. This year’s event will feature dynamic performances and inspiring speakers, including youth leaders and activists who will share their vision for a more just and inclusive future.
Stand Against Racism is open to the public, and we strongly encourage individuals, families, and local organizations to come out, show solidarity, and raise their voices in support of racial justice. Let’s come together to make a statement and take action toward a more equitable society.
Until Justice Just Is prizes will be awarded at this event.
THIS IS A FREE EVENT, REGISTRATION IS REQUIRED.
As the weather turns warm, YWCA Princeton heads on the road to table at community events! Here are some of the locations you can catch us in this summer.
RWJ’s Garden Party
Thursday May 28 , 3 to 7 pm th
RobertWoodJohnsonUniversityHospital HamiltonishostingaGardenPartyworking towardscultivatingwellnessthat beginswith plantingoneseedatatime TheGardenParty forGoodHealthwillfeatureafarmersmarket, childrenactivities,communityresourcetables, food,musicandsomuchmore Youwillalsoget tolearnaboutthecommunitygardenlocated withintheparkandenjoyplayingsocceronthe RWJBHsoccerfield Wewillbethereasa communityofferingmoreinformationaboutthe workthatwedo!TheGardenPartywillbeheld onThursdayMay28 from3to7pmatBromley Parklocatedat1651EStateStreet,Trenton,NJ 08609 th
Paddle for Pink
Saturday June 13 , 8 am to 4 pm th
PaddleforPinkistheflagshipeventofthe MachesticDragons,NewJersey’sfirst breastcancersurvivordragonboatteam Sinceitsinceptionin2007,PaddleforPink hasgrownfromamodestgatheringof12 teamstoavibrantfestivalhostingupto50 teamsfrommultiplestates OurBreast CancerResourceCenterwillbethere providinginformationandparticipatingin the“FlowersontheWater”ceremony PaddleforPinkwillbeheldonSaturday June13 from8amto4pmatMercer CountyParkLakelocatedat1665 Mercerville-EdinburgRoad,WestWindsor, NJ08550 th
Mercer County Cultural Festival
Saturday June 6 , 11 am to 7 pm th
JoinMercerCountyDivisionofCulture& HeritageandCountyExecutiveDanBensonto celebratetherichlydiversecommunitythat makesupMercerCountythroughtheannual CulturalFestivalatMercerCountyPark.This FREEone-dayfestivalfeatureslive performancesofmusicanddance,aswellas traditionalartdemonstrationsshowcasing manydiversecultures.StopbytheYWCA Princetontable!TheMercerCountyCultural Ferstival&FoodTruckRallywillbeheldon SaturdayJune6 from11amto7pmatMercer CountyParklocatedat1665MercervilleEdinburgRoad,WestWindsor,NJ08550. th
Juneteenth Weekend Finale
Saturday June 20 , 12 pm to 8 pm th
Weareexcitedtohonorthepastandcelebrate thepresentwithTheAfricanAmericanCultural CollaborativeofMercerCountyfortheirannual Juneteenthprogramming.SponsoredbyThe NewJerseyLegislativeDistrict15andMercer CountyExecutiveDanBenson,theeventwill featurefood,liveperformances,dancing,and more.MakesureyoustopbyYWCAPrinceton’s tabletobuyashirt!TAACC’sJuneteenth celebrationwillbeheldonSaturdayJune20 from12to8pmatMercerCountyParkFestival Fairgroundslocationat1665MercervilleEdinburgRoad,WestWindsor,NJ08550 th
