On Wednesday September 11 at 7:00PM ET, we were honored to have the lead plaintiff in Zurawski vs. Texas, Amanda Zurawski, and renowned journalist Tara McGowan.
This was an unique opportunity to hear from two women who are making significant contributions to critical issues in our society. Amanda Zurawski’s powerful testimony sheds light on the human cost of restrictive abortion laws, while Tara McGowan explored the vital role of media in strengthening democracy and inspiring civic action.
ABOUT OUR SPEAKERS
Amanda Zurawski was the lead plaintiff in Zurawski vs. Texas, the first lawsuit brought by patients challenging a state on its abortion bans since the fall of Roe. She lives in Austin, TX.
In 2022, after 18 months of fertility treatment, Zurawski and her husband Josh learned she was pregnant with their first baby. Unfortunately Amanda miscarried at 18 weeks, but due to the abortion bans in Texas, was unable to receive healthcare, and after three days crashed into septic shock, which nearly killed her. After spending a week in the hospital, Amanda began speaking out about her experience to help spread awareness and with hopes of preventing similar fates befalling other pregnant people, in Texas and beyond.
Amanda has spent the last two years advocating for reproductive rights and abortion access. She has testified in front of US Congress, has provided interviews for countless media outlets and platforms.
Tara McGowan is the founder and publisher of COURIER, a fast-growing left-leaning news network with local newsrooms in eleven states. COURIER is building a more informed, engaged, and representative democracy by reaching tens of millions of Americans where they are online with factual, values-driven news that inspires civic participation.
A former journalist and political strategist, Tara has seen firsthand how America’s growing information chasm has contributed to increased polarization and the rising threat of authoritarianism. Recognizing the need for a new model of media that exists explicitly to protect and strengthen our fragile democracy, Tara founded COURIER in 2019. COURIER is a network of state newsrooms whose on-the-ground reporters and correspondents deliver factual and empowering pro-democracy news directly to the social newsfeeds and inboxes of communities who have been left behind by traditional media. COURIER is one of the fastest-growing news networks in the country, with nearly 4 million online subscribers, over 800K TikTok followers, and an average weekly reach of over 50 million Americans.
