Everything you missed at Ms. this week.
Ms. Weekly Digest | July 4, 2020

Dear John,

What an exciting week this has been! On Monday, the Supreme Court announced its much-anticipated decision in June Medical Services v. Russo. In this Louisiana case, the Court struck down a state law that required doctors performing abortions to have hospital admitting privileges near their clinic. If they had allowed the law to stand, the number of abortion clinics in the state would have been reduced to just one—from an already paltry three remaining clinics.

And while feminists breathed a sigh of relief when the Supreme Court’s 5-4 ruling was issued on Monday, the fight for true reproductive freedom is far from over. As predicted, President Trump’s two Supreme Court nominees—Neil Gorsuch and Brett Kavanaugh—voted against women’s constitutional right to an abortion. Chief Justice John Roberts cast the swing vote, siding with the majority. But in his opinion on June Medical, Chief Justice Roberts made it clear that it’s stare decisis (AKA legal precedent) that he respects—not abortion rights. Yes, this week’s ruling was a major victory—but the decision should never have been so close. It makes clear just how fragile abortion rights are across the country. The fight for reproductive justice must continue.

In other exciting news: Ms. launched our first podcast, On the Issues with Michele Goodwin, this week! Thanks to our amazing Ms. community, we’ve already reached the top 10 percent most-downloaded podcasts and have a five-star rating on Apple Podcasts.

In the first episode, Dr. Goodwin and her guests tackle an issue that is critically important in this current moment: Policing in America—A Tale of Race, Sex and Violence. We hope you’ll give it a listen now on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or MsMagazine.com and subscribe, rate and review—it’s the number one thing you can do to support our independent, feminist reporting and help us reach as many new listeners as possible.

Finally this week, I’d like to invite you to join Ms., the Feminist Majority Foundation and Girls Learn International on Thursday, July 16 at 8pm ET for a special, virtual screening of Capturing the Flag, a documentary that shares the story of three activists who worked to combat voter suppression in Cumberland County, N.C. in 2016. The screening will be followed by a live town hall with Michele Goodwin, host of our On the Issues podcast; Myrna Pérez, director of the Brennan Center's Voting Rights and Elections Program; and Laverne Berry, a producer and activist featured in the film. Click here for more information and to register for this free event. It is sure to be a can’t-miss event—especially as we look ahead to the critically important elections this November.

BY THE TEAM | On the inaugural show of our new podcast, Host Dr. Michele Goodwin and special guests focus on policing in America, examining race, sex and violence. We specifically take up women and policing, elevating the stories and experiences of women—a perspective often absent from mainstream conversation.

BY SARAH BOONIN | In his opinion on June Medical v. Russo, Chief Justice Roberts made clear that he respects stare decisis (AKA legal precedent)—not abortion rights.

BY GISELLE HENGST & OLIVER C. HAUG | In a 5-4 decision that echoes precedent of an identical case in Texas four years ago, the Supreme Court issued a ruling on Monday that will allow Louisiana’s three abortion clinics to stay open. Though this case was a critical victory, the fight for true reproductive freedom in the U.S. is far from over.

BY MAKHFI AZIZI | In an open letter to global women leaders, a coalition of Afghan women has asked world leaders to “stand by their side to protect women’s rights in Afghanistan."

BY CARRIE N. BAKER | Drawing on Black feminist theory, iconic reproductive justice activist Loretta Ross is teaching an online course on white supremacy, focused on the connections between racism and misogyny. "I will be teaching white supremacy through the feminist lens of love," Ross told Ms.

BY OLIVER C. HAUG | Between February and April of this year, 41 percent of Black-owned businesses in the U.S. closed their doors—the largest group of small businesses affected.

BY CYNTHIA RICHIE TERRELL | Our friend, Cynthia Terrell, founder and executive director of RepresentWomen, is back with another installment of her weekly column, rounding up some of her favorite stories about women’s representation in the news this week.

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