Dear John,

In its first direct challenge to Roe v. Wade since Trump installed three far-right appointees, this Monday, the Supreme Court agreed to hear an appeal in the case of Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization (a case that involves a Mississippi law banning most abortions after 15 weeks). This case is a direct challenge to the Supreme Court’s long-standing precedents in Roe v. Wade and Casey v. Planned Parenthood. This also marks a momentous—and deeply worrying—moment in our ongoing fight for abortion rights: It will be the first time the court will rule on the constitutionality of a pre-viability abortion ban since Roe was decided in 1973. In fact, Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization has been called “a test case to overturn Roe v. Wade.”

As if that is not enough, on Wednesday, Texas enacted a six-week abortion ban with a new, uniquely cruel twist—the law allows anyone, regardless of where they live or whether they have any association with a patient, to sue an abortion provider or anyone who helps a patient obtain an abortion, including by providing financial help or transportation.

No matter how deeply worrying this Supreme Court case, as well as the many proposed state-level bans across the country—including in Texas—are right now, I must state this unequivocally: Abortion is still legal in all 50 states. You still have the constitutional right to an abortion. Courts across the country have enjoined all of these bans from going into effect for now—but we must continue to challenge all such arcane, harmful, and cruel legislation.

This news has also put into sharp relief the urgent need for relaxed restrictions on medication abortion by mail. Earlier this month, the Biden administration announced that the FDA will undertake a review of longstanding restrictions on the medication mifepristone, used for miscarriage and abortion care. These unnecessary, unscientific restrictions must be repealed. Increased access to medication abortion from the comfort of a woman’s own home is one clear way around the many partisan restrictions we’re seeing pop up... and it would put the power where it belongs—in women’s hands.

Since the very first issue of Ms. was published almost 50 years ago, we have reported on the fight for abortion rights and reproductive justice, not only here in the U.S., but around the globe. One thing we know for sure: Women are willing to risk their very lives and health for control over their own bodies and lives. Let’s make sure that no woman, anywhere, has to take that risk. Keep up the fight.

For equality,

Kathy Spillar
Executive Editor

P.S. Our friends at Made to Save, United State of Women, and Supermajority invite you to join President Obama, Eva Longoria, and special guests for a candid conversation about the COVID-19 vaccines and the disproportionate health impact this pandemic has had on women, and women of color in particular.

Women are this country’s living infrastructure. This conversation will center women’s experiences and address how we can ensure women and their families have equitable access to the vaccine. Together, with the help of the vaccine, we can get back to what we all miss most. Register to attend this conversation on Monday, May 24th at 2pm ET/11am PT.