John,

On Friday, the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade – opening the door to statewide bans and subsequent rulings that will harm Black people disproportionately. This decision is one of several decisions recently dropped, which were designed to limit our self-determination in service of a white supremacist and patriarchal agenda.

The overturning of Roe will open the door to further criminalization of Black people. As we continue our fight for freedom, it’s beyond necessary that we have full access to reliable abortion services for all Black people.

Here's the thing, John: The Supreme Court has a long history of diminishing the humanity of Black people. This Roe decision is an extension of that.

When the Court makes the argument that certain rights are illegitimate because they are not explicitly named in the Constitution, they are asserting that only white male property owners' rights are legitimate. We are clear: It is the Supreme Court that is illegitimate. It is the Court that is advancing a deeply regressive view of freedom.

We are infuriated. We are in pain. But we will not be disheartened or deterred from the fight. Here's what we're fighting for in response to the decision:

Expanding the Court
Impeaching illegitimate and racist justices
Ending the Filibuster
President Biden to sign an immediate executive action defending reproductive freedom
Congress to pass the Women's Health Protection Act

They will attempt to divide us, and they'll damn sure call us radical – but these things are not radical. They are necessary to protect and affirm Black people's right to thrive.

There are actions we can take to support our communities immediately:

Support your local abortion fund
Provide a safe harbor to vulnerable people impacted by this decision

With this ruling, twenty-six states in the country have trigger laws or abortion bans that will likely go into effect or are already in effect. Our communities already struggle to survive police violence, surveillance, and criminalization from the criminal legal system - this decision will only exacerbate those enduring harms. Collectively, our communities navigate unfair targeting, sentencing, and punishment daily.

Knowing that liberation will never come from this Court, we must push forward and continue the work we've been doing, together.

In love and solidarity,

Black Lives Matter Global Network Foundation