Hi john,

The end of another week brings Abortion AF back to keep you updated, motivated, and ready to go—and by “you,” we clearly mean everyone. It warms our cold, black hearts to see that our work calling out the anti abortion hypocrites at Susan B Anthony List has their panties so twisted, they had to feature us in their newsletter. Sorry haters, no amount of dragging us makes your lies the truth. We got your number, SBA, and thanks to AAF—so does everyone else.

Now for this week’s news highlights in the Reprosphere!

Embryos Get Rights, Pregnant People Get Handcuffs
The data is in: according to a newly released Pregnancy Justice study, in the first two years after Roe was overturned, more than 400 people were charged with pregnancy-related crimes. This should be a reminder that overturning Roe was never the end game, it was simply THE tool used by anti-abortion extremists to criminalize abortion. One of the biggest takeaways from the study won’t shock you: the majority of charges happened in the South, and targeted low-income pregnant folks… 300 cases came from Alabama and Oklahoma alone! 

It’s important to note: these numbers are also very likely undercounted, as there is no national database of arrest or court records. And while we may not know the true scope of pregnancy criminalization post-Roe, we do know that abortion bans and increased surveillance will always make pregnant folks less safe. Which is the entire point.

Holy Math: 2 Catholic Hospitals = 0 Care
A California woman is suing after being denied emergency abortion care not once but TWICE by two different Catholic-affiliated hospitals. Why, you ask? Because performing an abortion while there is a still-detectable fetal heartbeat, regardless of zero chance of survival for the fetus, would apparently violate their “Ethical and Religious Directives for Catholic Health Services.” After the SECOND miscarriage and denial of an emergency abortion, this patient was again told to go home and miscarry or go to another hospital—then "contracted life-threatening sepsis in the process, lost a significant amount of blood, and required a blood transfusion." And a quick sidebar—as the latest Woke Pope comes out saying harm to immigrants and the death penalty isn’t prolife, YET THIS APPARENTLY IS…

Call us heathens, but patient care should be based on medicine and science, not whatever Bishop Touchtoomuch’s sexist doctrine says.

New Feminist Buzzkills Episode: Drops TODAY!

Our undisputed Feminist Buzzkills are back with a fresh new episode that dives into this week’s stench of anti-abortion ass-wagging. Lizz and Moji will dive into the PRegnacy Justice study on the alarming numbers of people being criminalized if their pregnancies end in abortion or miscarriage, and they will fill thy cup with rage explaining how Pam Bondi’s goon squad is using a federal law created to protect abortion providers now to silence protesters instead.  

We Got Guests!
Joining Lizz and Moji this week is Eliana Rodriguez, a Colombian student activist who met with Lizz in Colombia while speaking at the Human Rights Film Festival. Eliana shares the tactics and strategies she and her community used to bring Colombia from decriminalization to legal abortion rights. 

Then for a boost of serotonin, AAF ride or die comedian Jenny Zigrino pops by to dish on her fertility journey, the ish surrounding the Riyadh Comedy festival, and her new comedy tour called “Afterbirth.” Yes, that is the title.  Listen, you’re just gonna have to tune in to find out, okay? 

You won’t regret it—tune in wherever you pod!

Now for Some Ways You Can Fight Back
Is the world a dumpster fire? Yes. Are we gonna try to do something about it anyway? Still yes! Check out below for different ways you can get involved! 

Sign Up for the AAF Volunteer Skill Share
You have the skills, we’ve got the clinics—let’s put them together! Do you do landscaping, are you great at taxes, can you edit video and create graphics? Tell us all about it, and we’ll do our best to connect you with clinics that need your skills! Trust us… everybody has skills to share.

We can all help out in our own ways—fill out the form now and help us build up our network to support abortion!!

Check Out Our Activist Calendar Below
Our Activist calendar is loaded with events and actions both nationally or in your community – pick your poison and get your boots on the ground!

Not feeling like you wanna dig around a calendar? We chose a highlight just for you!

FEATURED ACTIVIST EVENT THIS WEEK

Looking For A Support Group To Talk About Your Abortion?
Peer Support Space’s and Florida Access Network’s Hibiscus Club exists to lower feelings of isolation and to build a support system with others who’ve had abortions. YOU DON’T HAVE TO LIVE IN FLORIDA! This is a space for everyone, everywhere that is super supportive and free from abortion stigma. The next virtual session on Wednesday, October 8th at 8:30pm ET—registration link here!

Could You Help Us Out With a Few Bucks?
Now more than ever Abortion Access Front could use your support. If we made you smarter or helped you engage with fellow do-gooders, please consider dropping a few dollars in the coffers to help us keep the work going!

There’s a whole hell of a lot of work to do, but we’re stoked to be doing it with y’all!

Not giving up,
XO Team Abortion AF