Dear John,

On this twentieth anniversary of the September 11 attacks, we’re thinking about what has and hasn’t changed since 2001. Yes, the U.S. is now officially out of Afghanistan — but it also feels like we’re living history all over again, with the Taliban violently cracking down on the fundamental human rights of Afghan women and girls.

But at times like this, we also remind ourselves of everything that’s changed. In the face of encroaching restrictions — bans on coeducation and sports for girls and women, on women in government and women in the media — Afghan women are fighting back, and refusing to be pushed back 20 years. At great risk to their own lives, women are taking to the streets of Herat and Kabul, with protests extending northward to Mazar-e-Sharif and further. The protesters have faced brutal beatings and threats from the Taliban, hoping to put an end to the demonstrations.

“Afghan women are demanding their equal rights be preserved and the achievements of the past 20 years be built upon,” writes Ms. contributor Makhfi Azizi. “Without women’s meaningful participation … the government cannot function.” This is a universal truth no matter where in the world we are.

In this country, where women remain dramatically underrepresented in the halls of power, a near total abortion ban took effect in Texas last week when the Supreme Court failed to intervene, despite the law being clearly unconstitutional. (On Thursday, the Department of Justice filed a lawsuit against the State of Texas, its officers, employees and agents, including private parties who could bring suit under the law, seeking an immediate injunction preventing the implementation or enforcement of the law.)

As we report on the desperation women and girls face in Texas and the stories of women traveling out of state for abortions, it feels like we’re living history all over again: “History confirms that women, out of love, out of necessity, out of shame and out of pride have always found a way to control their own bodies and their lives,” writes Ms. contributor Lynn Paltrow.

Given all that’s happened, we must ask ourselves: if the women of Afghanistan will protest and put themselves in danger in the name of preserving their rights, can we do no less?

Together with a coalition of over 90 organizations, the Women’s March has called for marches across the country on October 2 – the Saturday before the Supreme Court begins its new term.

Ms. will be joining the marches and bringing you the latest on the legal challenges to the Texas and Mississippi laws, the latter of which will come before the Court in its next term.

In the face of these most recent attacks on women’s autonomy and human rights, we must organize as never before.

Because it is what needs to be done. Because it is simply the right thing to do.

Because we will not go back.

For equality,

Kathy Spillar
Executive Editor