Dear John,
A pregnancy outcome should never result in prison time, but that could be the case in Louisiana. Amendment 1 will be on the ballot this November in Louisiana. If approved, abortions would be banned across the state with no exceptions for rape or incest or if the life of the pregnant person were in danger. Louisiana also has “trigger laws” in place which ensure that if Roe v. Wade is overturned, abortion would be banned automatically.1
Black cis and trans women, trans men, and gender non-conforming folks will be criminalized first. We saw this play out in Mississippi when Latice Fisher, a young Black mother was charged with second-degree murder after having a stillbirth. And in Alabama, when Marshae Jones was indicted for the death of her own fetus after being shot five times in the stomach. Black people are being forced to live in fear that seeking an abortion, initiating a self-managed abortion, or even instances of stillbirth or miscarriage could result in criminalization. But your District Attorney has the power to get ahead of any potential criminalization and prioritize reproductive freedom by refusing to enforce laws that penalize based on pregnancy outcomes.
That's why I'm asking you to become a sustaining member, John. Now is your chance to take your support to the next level. Now is your chance to take your support to the next level. Because with your help, we can continue to put pressure on prosecutors and elected officials who have the power to ensure no one is thrown in jail based on a pregnancy outcome.
I support reproductive freedom
When our people get access to the reproductive healthcare we need, we thrive. That starts with demanding the solutions that will aid in the healing and prioritization of our reproductive autonomy. This includes a world in which our people are treated with dignity, and freedom to make choices about our own bodies. We deserve meaningful options regarding where, how, and with whom we will give birth, in a person-centered, anti-racist model of care.2 Law enforcement including prosecutors has no place in pregnancy decisions. With your help, we can continue our fight calling on them to say NO to criminalizing pregnancy.
Before you go John, can we count on you to be a key member in our fight for reproductive justice? Choose an amount that feels powerful to you as an investment in this powerful work:
Until justice is real,
--Erika, Rashad, Arisha, Scott, Malachi, Marybeth, Madison, Leonard, Ernie, Ariel, Ana, McKayla, Ericka, and the rest of the Color Of Change team
References:
- "Will Louisiana Be the First State to Criminalize Abortion After Justice Ginsburg’s Death?" Rewire News Group. https://act.colorofchange.org/go/274583?t=12&akid=47271%2E4731121%2EXFCHqD
- How Many Black, Brown, & Indigenous People Have to Die Giving Birth? https://act.colorofchange.org/go/260371?t=14&akid=47271%2E4731121%2EXFCHqD
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