“We are being silenced. And it’s systematic. And in the midst of all of this silencing, our hands are being tied behind our backs when it comes to patient care.” — Dr. Leah Torres, an Alabama abortion provider.

Dear John,

When Roe fell last year, I felt so many emotions: rage, fear, and sadness. My first thoughts went to the millions of people who wouldn’t be able to access care, and how their lives would be impacted.

Around the same time, we started interviewing abortion providers about the obstacles and discrimination they have faced throughout their careers. We spent months talking to providers and hearing what their experiences have been like—in their own words. I advocate for abortion access every day and even I was shocked to hear the danger and discrimination abortion providers have to deal with—just to do their jobs and provide essential health care.

One provider describes how the state used bogus charges to go after her medical license. Another tells the story of how she got through the entire hiring process at a hospital, then was turned away because of the abortion work she wanted to do on the side.

We’re so proud to introduce: Defiant: Stories From Abortion Providers on the Front Lines, a collection of interviews with abortion providers in states across the country telling the stories of their work and lives, in their own words.

While listening to these six providers, I learned how the hateful rhetoric, misinformation, and attacks on abortion that anti-abortion extremists spread have impacted and endangered providers. With so many harmful narratives out there, listening to abortion providers is more needed than ever—especially in a post-Roe world.