Dear John,
Two years ago, the Supreme Court overturned the constitutional right to abortion. We knew it was coming, we’d seen the leaked Dobbs decision before it was final, and still, it was devastating. Within roughly two months, 17 million women [[link removed]] lost access to essential reproductive health care, and anti-abortion politicians raced to pass state-level abortion restrictions that were increasingly ambitious in their scope and cruelty. An entire generation is now less safe and less free to control their own bodies than their parents and grandparents.
We’ve since seen the dire consequences: patients forced to travel hundreds of miles to receive the care they need, denied
emergency abortion care, and required to navigate fear, chaos, and purposeful misinformation. Health care providers and others who help patients access abortion are increasingly being targeted with harassment and violence, and forced to shut their doors [[link removed]] by threats of prosecution and prison. The repercussions have been greatest for those who can afford them least—whose experiences at the intersections of race, gender identity, poverty, disability, and more already make it harder for them to access care.
In the Dobbs opinion, Justice Alito wrote that overturning Roe v. Wade would simply return the issue of abortion to the states. But just this term, the Court heard cases challenging access to medication abortion and to emergency medical care during pregnancy. Anti-abortion activists have made it clear what their real agenda is: ban abortion nationwide. Their regressive, oppressive endgame would impose a rigid gender ideology on women everywhere, punishing all those who dare to demand control of their own futures.
We refuse to let that happen.
In Ohio, Kansas, Kentucky, and every state where abortion has been on the ballot, voters have affirmed their support for abortion rights and access. They are electing people who support reproductive freedom—and running for office [[link removed]] themselves. These elections reflect the American public’s widespread support [[link removed]] for people making their own decisions about abortion, without government interference.
At the National Women’s Law Center, we have been working nonstop in the courts, with lawmakers at every level, with the Biden administration, and with people like you, to ensure abortion is affordable and available, without stigma, shame, or barriers.
We launched the Abortion Access Legal Defense Fund [[link removed]] for patients, providers, and supporters facing legal expenses because they sought or helped someone obtain an abortion. We helped create the Abortion Defense Network [[link removed]] to provide legal advice and representation to those caught in the quicksand created by the changing post-Roe legal landscape. We’ve brought complaints on behalf of pregnant patients denied emergency abortion care and amplified the stories of the countless people hurt by the Dobbs decision to shift the cultural conversation around the impact of abortion bans.
And we’re just getting started.
I am proud to announce that, to mark the second anniversary of the Dobbs decision, the National Women’s Law Center is joining leading reproductive health, rights, and justice organizations in unveiling the ‘Abortion Access Now’ campaign! This historic campaign pledges a $100 million investment to advance abortion rights and access, including a federal right to abortion and access to abortion care no matter who you are or where you live. For more information, please visit AbortionAccessNowCampaign.com [[link removed]] .
We’re fighting for a future where everyone has both the right and the ability to decide whether and when to become a parent. Where they have the child care they need and the equal pay they deserve. Where justice for her, justice for all is the law of the land and the daily reality in school, at work, and across the nation.
I’m grateful to you for dreaming alongside us. For making your voices heard and your power manifest. For supporting the Law Center and believing in the change we can make, together.
In solidarity,
Fatima Goss Graves
she/her/hers
CEO and President
National Women's Law Center
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