State Rep. Byron Rushing, a South End Democrat, has been endorsed by NARAL Pro-Choice Massachusetts in his re-election campaign. Rushing represents the 9th Suffolk District, which consists of parts of the South End, Roxbury, Back Bay, and the Fenway. He currently serves as co-chair of the Progressive Caucus.
Gena Frank, Legislative and political director of NARAL Pro-Choice Massachusetts said, “As a Legislator, Rep. Rushing has proven to be a champion for the pro-choice movement. He has been a key advocate and consistently fought beside us. In a time when reproductive freedom is under attack from all angles, we need to push to keep leaders like him on Beacon Hill.”
Rushing said, “Throughout my career as state representative, I’ve worked to support women’s access to reproductive health care and eliminate racial and ethnic health disparities. Now, more than ever, it is important to take bold stands to support justice and equality.”
He continued, “That’s why I am now leading the campaign to rid our General Laws of any archaic, anti-abortion, pre-Roe vs. Wade laws still on the books. We cannot risk the next Supreme Court causing chaos in Massachusetts.”
Byron Rushing is a longtime progressive advocate and community activist. He began his commitment to public service in the civil rights movement, working for CORE (Congress of Racial Equality) in New York — and as a community organizer for the Northern Student Movement in Boston.
He later served as director of Roxbury Associates and helped found the Lower Roxbury Community Corporation (now Madison Park CDC) – one of the first community development corporations (CDCs) in the nation.
As co-chair of the state’s Health Disparities Council, he has written, sponsored, and passed important legislation, including the law that created statewide guidelines so hospitals would improve services to victims of violent crimes and legislation for substance abuse “treatment on demand” – the shift in policy from seeing drug abuse as a crime to treating it as an illness.
Rushing was an original sponsor of the LGBTQ rights bill. He was one of the leaders in the fight to protect marriage equality in Massachusetts and successfully co-sponsored the Transgender Rights laws.
Rushing has also led on a wide range of other issues, including criminal justice reform, investing in City parks and open spaces, strengthening gun controls, and protecting our environment.