On the evening of May 2nd, women in America confronted the stark and traumatizing reality that — for the first time in a half century — we are likely to lose our federal right to a safe and legal abortion. A leaked draft opinion by U.S. Supreme Court Justice Samuel Alito, who was speaking for the court’s conservative majority, issued a call that “Roe and Casey must be overruled.” Alito continued, “The Constitution makes no reference to abortion, and no such right is implicitly protected by any constitutional provision.” And so began the fall of Roe, ending the constitutional right to an abortion in the United States.
States will be left to decide whether women can access abortion services. We are seeing what that means across the country as states enact draconian laws that punish women, their doctors, their friends, and even their Uber drivers. In Illinois, we have a trigger law that will ensure that abortions remain legal. Even this could change should the makeup of our state legislature change. For women of color or those without the financial means to travel across state lines for an abortion, their health, the health of their families and their very livelihoods are under attack. The threat to these women and their families is existential.
While the Supreme Court’s reversal of Roe is not yet final, the message is loud and clear: the health of American women and their families is under siege.
I lived through the transition period before Roe became the law of the land. I experienced what it meant to me and to the women I know to deal with the complex emotions about an unplanned pregnancy without having to worry that the abortion we might choose to seek would be in unsafe and unsterile conditions that could result in hospitalization or death. No one should have to make that choice.
This is a call to action for all of us who value the right of women to make their own choices about their bodies. It is a call to stand up for reproductive choice, for women’s health, and also a reminder that elections have consequences. Choosing not to engage in this fight is to cede your power to others.
Please take a look at the resources and organizations listed below from the Liberate Abortion Coalition and share these with your networks. Thank you for your partnership.
In solidarity,
Margie
Resources from the Liberate Abortion Coalition:
- Donate to the Midwest Action Coalition, which helps women secure safe abortions across the Midwest.
- Liberate Abortion’s newsletter from 5/3/22. You can sign up to get Liberate Abortion updates on their website.
- Talking Points, LAC statement and Calls to Action
- Liberate Abortion Reporter Do’s/Don’ts Guide
- All Above All Roe Toolkit: Roe toolkit contains the messaging and social media resources to support your communication and digital activities.
- CRR Decision Day Scenario Messaging: Messaging that ties into the three possible outcomes that could come from the Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization decision.
- Donate to Abortion Funds: A donation to the National Network of Abortion Funds brings abortion funds closer to a future where all people have access to abortion without shame or stigma.
- Keep Our Clinics: Support independent community providers who provide the majority of abortion care in the US.
- M+A Hotline: a confidential, private and secure phone and text hotline for people in need of support for self-managed miscarriage or abortion.
- ReproLegal Helpline: a free, confidential source for legal advice and information on self-managed abortion. Visit ReproLegalHelpline.org or call 844-868-2812.
- INeedAnA.com: Find a clinic – to find vetted, up to date, and personalized info on how to get an abortion; no search or user data saved.
- Join the protest in Chicago on May 14 at 1 p.m. at Millennium Park at the columns near Michigan and Randolph (east side of Michigan just south of Randolph).