Keeping Up with the Fight For Abortion Access
Advocating for reproductive rights and abortion access has been and will continue to be a pillar of grassroots organizing across the Alliance Network. Since the Supreme Court eliminated the federal constitutional protection of abortion rights set by Roe v. Wade and gave the authority to decide abortion rights to individual states in June 2022, many attacks on reproductive freedom have been introduced this legislative session to heavily restrict or completely ban abortion access.
Read more about how the Alliance Network is continuing to fight for reproductive freedom through local level organizing in our latest abortion access blog post.
50th Anniversary of Roe v. Wade
Sunday, January 22nd marked fifty years since the Supreme Court released its decision on Roe v. Wade, recognizing abortion as a constitutional right. This year is the first anniversary since a conservative Supreme Court composed primarily of white men overturned Roe last summer. Since then, a new generation has stood up against that decision and won incredible victories for reproductive rights at the state level.
Alliance youth organizers are fighting tooth and nail to protect abortion access in their communities. Take a look at some of the work the Alliance Network has been doing since the overturning of Roe v Wade.
Last year, Alliance Network organizations from across the nation effectively organized and claimed hard-fought victories for reproductive rights.
In Kansas, countless organizers from Loud Light mobilized Kansans and defeated Amendment 2 – which would have fundamentally restricted abortion access in the state.
Detroit Action helped pass Proposal 3, which enshrined the right to abortion into Michigan’s state constitution.
In Montana, voters rejected dangerous abortion restrictions with the help of Forward Montana.
New Era Colorado relaunched their abortion initiative, The Brazen Project, which aims to smash the stigma against abortions on college campuses and address the false narratives propped up by anti-abortion clinics. New Era organizers are demonstrating fearless examples of community action in the face of crisis.
3 Ways to Continue Protecting Abortion Access
In June, the Supreme Court eliminated the federal constitutional protection of abortion rights set by Roe v. Wade and gave the authority to decide abortion rights to individual states. This decision threatens the lives of millions who will seek an abortion, especially Black, Indigenous, and people of color, and people working to make ends meet. Let’s fight back.
Here are three ways you can protect abortion after the SCOTUS decision to overturn Roe v. Wade
1. Call your Senator
When the decision was leaked in May, the Alliance Network demanded elected leaders take action to protect abortion access. And it is the filibuster that stands in the way of progress. Senate Republicans have already used this “Jim Crow relic’ to block critical voting rights legislation. Call your senator today and tell your legislators to end the filibuster in order to codify our rights to an abortion.
2. Support Abortion Funds and Reproductive Justice Orgs
It will take all hands on deck to protect the lives of pregnant people seeking an abortion and there are many organizations that have been working on abortion access and justice for years. Learn from and donate to these orgs:
- abortionfunds.org – The National Network of Abortion Funds builds power with members to remove financial and logistical barriers to abortion access
- liberateabortion.org – The Liberate Abortion Campaign is an effort comprised of more than 150 reproductive justice and rights groups working in coalition to fight for abortion that is available, affordable, accessible, and stigma-free for anyone who needs it.
- reproductiverights.org – The Center for Reproductive Rights is a global human rights organization of lawyers and advocates who ensure reproductive rights are protected in law as fundamental human rights
- prochoiceamerica.org – The 2.5 million members of NARAL Pro-Choice America fight for reproductive freedom for every body.
- sistersong.net/reproductive-justice – SisterSong is a Southern based, national membership organization to build an effective network to improve institutional policies and systems that impact the reproductive lives of marginalized communities.
- Black Feminists Fighting Abortion Bans and Advancing Reproductive Justice – Support Black feminist leaders as they continue to fight for abortion access and reproductive justice for us all!
3.
Support Alliance Network Orgs
Youth organizers from orgs like New Era Colorado, Loud Light, Mississippi Votes and more are fighting to protect abortion access. Support these organizations in the network, so we can continue to protect our right to life-saving healthcare.
ICYMI: How the Threat to Abortion Rights Could Mobilize Young Voters
Last month, Alliance Network leaders from Mississippi Votes, New Era Colorado, and Loud Light spoke with NPR host Juana Summers about how young people will take action in a world without the protections of Roe and why we need our elected officials to take action now.
How Abortion Access Affects Mental Health
Revisit our post from Mental Health Week last month where we covered why access to an abortion is essential to creating safe and healthy communities.
Research and stories from our community tell us that limiting abortion access will severely affect our mental health. When people do not have resources or the option to make decisions about their bodies, they experience fear, stress, anxiety, depression, and much more.
Abortion is healthcare. And having access to abortion is critical to the mental health of our communities. We deserve the right to make choices about our bodies
Together, we can pressure our elected officials to side with the majority of Americans who believe that abortion access is a human right. Call your senator, support youth organizers, and donate to abortion funds. It’s time to fight back.