Dear team,

Yesterday, we filed three complaints in Tennessee, Idaho, and Oklahoma to defend every person's right to access health-preserving and life-saving abortion care and their physicians' ability to provide this care without fear of legal jeopardy. Seems obvious, right?

The legal proceedings in these three states join our case in Texas, Zurawski v. Texas, the first-ever case brought on behalf of people denied abortions due to state abortion bans since the U.S. Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade.

Will you support the Center for Reproductive Rights' work in making sure everyone can access essential health care no matter where they live?

These filings are an important first step toward reestablishing abortion rights and access across the United States, especially in states that have criminalized abortion.

"Had I not gone out of state for an abortion, I could have died from complications with preeclampsia, leaving my daughter without a mother and my husband without a wife."
- Kayla Smith, Plaintiff from Idaho

You've been hearing the gut-wrenching stories from our plaintiffs in Texas, and these stories represent a small fraction of what is happening both in Texas and across the United States. Heartbreaking stories like these are why we have filed these new complaints. No one should have to wait until they are near death to get the health care they need.

The decision to have an abortion in any circumstances in any state by any person should belong to the pregnant person, not to state lawmakers. Yet because some U.S. states have criminalized abortion with draconian jail sentences and other penalties, essential health care is being routinely denied—even when it is medically necessary to protect the life, health, or future fertility of the pregnant person.

Right now: Will you donate today to get us closer to a world where all people in all circumstances can access the abortion care they need?

All of us at the Center will continue to fight on behalf of our plaintiffs in Texas, Tennessee, Idaho, and Oklahoma and on behalf of women and pregnant people around the country who are being denied access to basic health care. We can't do this work without your support.

With gratitude,

Marc Hearron
Senior Counsel, US Litigation