But there is also reason for hope. Last week, the U.S. Justice Department announced a lawsuit against the state of Texas to block S.B. 8. This lawsuit has the potential to restore access to abortion for millions of people in Texas.
This is what we need right now: not just anger, but action. Not despair, but determination. And while we applaud the move of the Justice Department, right now, people in Texas are being denied the care they need. So I want to tell you a little bit about how this fight is unfolding, how people are stepping up to do their part, and how you can help.
First, a reminder that the crisis in Texas is completely unprecedented. The state has banned all abortion after six weeks of pregnancy — before many people even know they are pregnant. Texas is also asking private citizens to drag doctors, health center staff, and anyone who helps another person access abortion after six weeks to court, and rewarding them with $10,000 for each successful lawsuit.
The impact of this heinous abortion ban cannot be understated. It will overwhelmingly harm Black and Latino people, people with low incomes, and people in rural areas, who already face immense barriers to health care. The unjust burden of this law falls disproportionately on those who can least afford it.
The U.S. Supreme Court has allowed this cruelty to continue, and abortion is effectively banned for most people in Texas. Anti-abortion lawmakers in other states are already racing to pass similar bans.
That's where we are: The state of Texas and a majority of the Supreme Court have turned their backs on pregnant people. And now people like you throughout Texas and across the country are stepping up to fight back.
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In Texas, providers have scrambled to care for patients in the face of these impossible new burdens. Advocates, including reproductive justice groups who have been fighting for years to protect our health and rights, are mobilizing to provide advice and resources to people in need of an abortion. If you or someone you know is in Texas and needs support, you can get more information here.
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The Department of Justice has just filed a lawsuit against the state of Texas to stop S.B. 8. The lawsuit makes clear what we already know: This ban is a direct attack on constitutional rights and the ability of millions of Texans to make their own medical decisions. This is the kind of swift, decisive action we need from the federal government to protect patients in Texas — and stop similar bans from spreading to other states.
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In the courts, we are continuing to fight to stop S.B. 8. While the Supreme Court refused to intervene in one legal challenge, Planned Parenthood filed another request in Texas state court and won a restraining order against Texas Right to Life, prohibiting that group from suing Planned Parenthood and its staff. Providers and patients shouldn't have to face intimidation, harassment, and frivolous lawsuits — and we will continue to stand up for our rights in the courts.
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Health centers outside Texas have mobilized to welcome patients who are now banned from abortion in their home state. Nobody should have to travel to another state to receive medical care or to have their fundamental rights respected. But I am grateful to providers, including Planned Parenthood health centers and other providers, in New Mexico, Oklahoma, Colorado, and elsewhere, who are opening their doors to Texans. The burden of this abortion ban falls hardest on those who can least afford it — and that includes patients who may not have the resources to travel. You can help by making a donation that will go straight to Texas abortion funds that provide direct support to patients seeking an abortion.
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In Congress, leaders are pushing for legislation that would protect reproductive rights nationwide. Speaker Pelosi has announced that the Women's Health Protection Act will be brought to the floor for a vote. Passing this bill in the Senate will not be quick or easy, but we will continue to work with champions in Congress to protect access to safe and legal abortion. Planned Parenthood organizers and advocates across the country are also mobilizing on the ground to stop S.B. 8 copycat bills from advancing in other state legislatures.
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You, and countless others like you, are rising up to protect patients in Texas and beyond. You are sharing your own powerful stories and spreading the word about this dangerous ban. You are donating to Planned Parenthood, local abortion funds, and other organizations in this fight. You are calling on lawmakers at the state and national levels to put a stop to the constant attacks on our rights.
In the midst of the darkness, it's the determination and courage of allies like you that have sustained me. We are facing a crisis unlike anything we have seen in a generation or more — and we are building a movement made for this moment.
I promise you, and I promise every person in Texas and beyond who fears for their health and rights: Planned Parenthood is not giving up, and we will never stop fighting. Looking around, I know we are not the only ones. That's what gives me hope. Stay with us, and stay strong.
