Taking action: the Texas Abortion Ban & Upcoming Supreme Court Cases

The events taking place in Texas have been a rollercoaster for reproductive rights. On September 1, a radical abortion ban went into effect prohibiting abortion after six weeks of pregnancy, long before many people even know they’re pregnant. After the U.S. Supreme Court failed to act, on October 6, U.S. District Court Judge Robert Pitman granted an emergency request from the Justice Department blocking enforcement of the ban, stating that Texas officials had created an “unprecedented and aggressive scheme to deprive its citizens of a significant and well-established constitutional right.” Nevertheless, just two days later the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals reinstated the ban, effectively making abortion inaccessible to those in need in the country’s second-largest state. Horrifyingly, many states are poised to pass laws mimicking the Texas ban in their own legislatures. Once again the Texas ban is headed to the U.S. Supreme Court: this Monday, November 1, the Court will hear arguments, though it has refused to block the law in the meantime.

Additionally, the Supreme Court is set to hear oral arguments on December 1 in the case about Mississippi’s 15-week abortion ban, Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization, which could effectively overturn Roe. The stakes couldn’t be higher: according to a recent report by the Planned Parenthood Federation of America (PPFA) and In Our Own Voice: National Black Women’s Reproductive Justice Agenda, if the Supreme Court overturns Roe, abortion access could be eliminated for nearly half of all people who can become pregnant in the U.S. Due to the structural inequity built into the American health care system, bans that could easily occur in 26 states will also have the most negative impact on those in the Black, Indigenous, Latinx, immigrant communities, as well as other traditionally underserved populations.

In response to laws that restrict access to abortion like the six-week ban in Texas, PPADMV was proud to support the Rally for Abortion Justice action in DC on October 2. Thousands came together to make it clear that we will fight to ensure that abortion is legal and accessible for all. In DC, we were also excited to partner with DC Vote to uplift the importance of DC statehood for abortion access locally.
PPADMV will also be mobilizing in support of abortion access on December 1 when the Mississippi case in the Supreme Court will be heard. We’ll be sure to let you know how you can get involved!

Annapolis in Action

Shout out to our friends at Planned Parenthood of Maryland for their successful Rally for Abortion Justice in Annapolis! The rally in Annapolis was kicked off with a powerful story from Ash Esposito about their own abortion where they proclaimed, “the minute the prognosis was poor, politics entered the room. Last time I checked, I DID NOT SIGN A CONSENT FORM FOR A POLITICIAN TO BE IN MY EXAM ROOM.” Read their powerful story here.

Action on DC Statehood

On Thursday, September 23, PPADMV hosted DC Mayor Muriel Bowser and Planned Parenthood Action Fund President Alexis McGill Johnson for a virtual town hall to bring light to the connection between the issue of statehood and health care inequities in the District. The event was emceed by PPADMV Co-CEO Dr. Laura Meyers. Thanks to all those who tuned in and took part in this amazing gathering. Check out this coverage of the event on WDVM.

The Virginia Elections

With so much on the line in Virginia's elections, PPADMV is going all in to make sure we elect pro-reproductive health care candidates on November 2. The Cook Political report has rated the Governor's race as a toss-up, and the choice couldn’t be more clear: pro-reproductive health care candidate and former VA Governor Terry McAuliffe will protect and expand access, while GOP nominee Glenn Youngkin has vowed to "go on offense" to defund Planned Parenthood and restrict access to abortion. Delegate races in Northern Virginia are tight as well. After making historic progress on access to abortion and other forms of reproductive health care in the last two years, Virginians can't afford to go back. Reproductive health care access in Virginia relies on good voter turnout - please join us in the final push! We'll be canvassing in Northern Virginia through election day. You can sign up to join us Saturday, Sunday, Monday, and/or Tuesday (Election Day).

The Expanding Student Access to Period Products Act

Nearly one in five students who menstruate have missed school because of a lack of access to period products. Introduced by DC Councilmember Brooke Pinto earlier in the year, DC’s Expanding Student Access to Period Products Act of 2021 would drastically improve the lives of DC students experiencing challenges accessing period products by requiring DC high schools, colleges, and universities to provide products in women’s and gender-neutral bathrooms. PPADMV has joined in support of this bill and is pushing for a full hearing on the legislation.

Sign up to join us knocking doors in Virginia this Saturday, Sunday, Monday, and/or Tuesday (Election Day)!
Complete this action form to call on DC Council Chairman Phil Mendelson to give the Expanding Student Access to Period Products Bill a hearing.
Help us continue to increase access to abortion care for patients in Texas by donating to the Abortion Care Fund to help ease the costs of travel and procedure expenses for patients.
The Biden administration has rescinded the Global Gag Rule for now but this action could be overturned with the flick of a future President's pen. Tell Congress: End the Global Gag Rule — for good!
Abortion is now banned for most people in Texas. We can’t allow these extreme abortion bans to continue to spread. Add your name to this petition showing you stand in solidarity with people seeking reproductive freedom in Texas and across the country. Virginia voters - Virginia Needs Your Vote! Virginia elections happen on November 2nd. Check out this list of candidates endorsed by Planned Parenthood Advocates of Virginia in partnership with PPADMV, and make a plan to get to the polls.