Progressive Groups Plan People’s Session

 Prairie Rose Seminole. (Mary Steurer/North Dakota Monitor)

(By: Mary Steurer. North Dakota Monitor) – Progressive advocacy groups frustrated with what they saw as a tone-deaf and unproductive legislative session will host an all-day organizing event May 16 at the Heritage Center.

Called “The People’s Session,” the goal of the event is to hear what North Dakotans’ policy priorities are. Representatives from its organizers — Gender Justice, Prairie Action and the North Dakota Human Rights Coalition — met Thursday morning on the steps of the Capitol to share what they have planned for the conference.

“It’s time our Legislature listens to people across our state and leads with our values that we share — like fairness, privacy, freedom and respect,” said Prairie Rose Seminole, who is vice chair of Gender Justice’s board and also sits on the board for the North Dakota Human Rights Coalition.

A survey of North Dakota residents commissioned by Gender Justice last fall indicates that North Dakotans support policies like expanding reproductive rights, and investing in child care and affordable housing, Gender Justice Executive Director Megan Peterson said Thursday. The survey, which was conducted by firm PerryUndem, gathered responses from 800 adults across the state.