Democratic National Committee chairman Tom Perez plans on meeting with the pro-life group Democrats for Life of America, after the organization requested a meeting amid the ongoing crisis over whether pro-life Democrats have a place in the party.
An aide to Perez confirmed that varying stances on abortion within the party will be one of many topics the chairman will be discussing with the organization, according to The Atlantic.
A date has not yet been scheduled for the meeting between Perez and Democrats for Life, but it is expected to take place at DNC headquarters in Washington, D.C.
Kristen Day, the executive director of Democrats for Life of America, said her organization hopes to make the case during the meeting with Perez that "there needs to be a stronger message from the top of the party on down that we want to include pro-life Democrats in the party." She added: "that means the party needs to help find pro-life Democratic candidates to run for office, help raise money for them, and help them win."
According to Day, Democrats for Life met with past DNC chairs, including Terry McAuliffe, Howard Dean, and Tim Kaine, adding that the group made attempts to meet with former chair Debbie Wasserman Schultz, but was not granted a meeting.
Perez had previously argued that the Democratic Party should not "demand fealty" on all topics, including abortion. However, Perez changed his position after the DNC received backlash from the National Abortion and Reproductive Rights Action League for endorsing Heath Mello, a pro-life Democrat running for mayor in Omaha, Nebraska, last month.
"Every Democrat, like every American, should support a woman's right to make her own choices about her body and her health," Perez said in a statement. "That is not negotiable and should not change city by city or state by state."
"At a time when women's rights are under assault from the White House, the Republican Congress, and in states across the country, we must speak up for this principle as loudly as ever and with one voice," he continued.
Perez's statement drew a rebuke from House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D., Calif.), who said that there is room for pro-life Democrats in the party, the Washington Free Beacon reported.
"Can you be a Democrat and [have] the support of the Democratic Party, if you're pro-life?" NBC host Chuck Todd asked Pelosi.
"Of course," Pelosi said. "I have served many years in Congress with members who have not shared my very positive, my family would say aggressive, position on promoting a woman's right to choose."
Sen. Dick Durbin (D., Ill.), the Senate's second-ranking Democrat, however, argued that only people who support the Roe v. Wade abortion decision can be part of the party.
"I am committed to women's rights under the law, reproductive rights certainly, and our party is," Durbin said. "We've made that part of our platform and position for a long, long time. I know within the ranks of the Democratic Party there are those who see that differently on a personal basis, but when it comes to the policy position, I think we need to be clear and unequivocal."
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D., N.Y.) attempted to straddle both sides, saying it is a "big tent party" but a "strongly pro-choice party."
"Look, we're a big tent party as Nancy Pelosi said, but we are, let's make no mistake about it, we are a pro-choice party. We're a strongly pro-choice party," Schumer said. "We think that's where the American people are, and in fact, if anything, are moving even more in that direction."
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2DrntIbg9bo