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John, 

On June 24, the U.S. Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade–the landmark
ruling that established the constitutional right to abortion almost half a
century ago.^1 Now, abortion rights are under attack in 26 states, with
eight enacting bans on the same day the ruling was released.^2 These laws
range from six-week bans that would outlaw abortion before someone even
realizes they’re pregnant to laws that would allow the jailing of
healthcare professionals for performing the procedure.^3,4 Overturning Roe
not only infringes on the bodily autonomy of Black people, it affects our
privacy. The court’s ruling puts the right to contraception, legalized
same-sex marriage, and other 14th Amendment rights at risk. It’s why we
are continuing to fight to protect abortion-seeking people since Texas
passed its Senate Bill 8 last year.

Not only will the abortion ban disproportionately harm Black people, it
also puts us at higher risk for criminal investigation.^5 People are
already being jailed for miscarriages and stillbirths.^6 Data shows Black
people experience higher rates of miscarriage and stillbirth, and this
invasion of privacy will further the overcriminalization and
disenfranchisement of Black communities.^7,8 While Roe v. Wade was never
enough to ensure equitable access to reproductive healthcare for Black
communities, we must fight even harder in this moment to ensure a
pregnancy outcome does not result in a prison sentence.

Nevertheless, this setback is not the final battle in the fight for
reproductive justice. The communities we build will protect us from
systems that seek to destroy our self-determination. Here’s how Color Of
Change is fighting back:

* Prosecutor accountability - District attorneys represent one of the
few lines of defense against this attack on bodily autonomy due to
their immense discretion over whether to charge someone with a crime.
[ [link removed] ]By demanding prosecutors keep law enforcement out of personal
health decisions, we can make it safer for pregnant people caught in
this widespread attack on reproductive freedom.

* Tech accountability - From mega-corporations like Facebook and Google
to menstrual cycle-tracking apps like Flo Health and Clue, tech
companies collect data that states can use to criminalize abortion.
That includes online searches for pregnancy symptoms, geolocation
data, and information on whether someone has missed their period. Even
if these companies don't willingly share consumer data, a subpoena
could force them to hand over that data. [ [link removed] ]By sending postcards to
tech company decision-makers and demanding they stop collecting this
sensitive information, we can prevent states from identifying people
seeking abortions.

* Corporate accountability - Since 2016, corporations like Coca-Cola,
CVS and so many others have donated as much as  $2.6 million each to
anti-abortion political groups.^9 [ [link removed] ]By demanding that corporations
end donations to any groups and lawmakers that support abortion bans,
we can financially disempower and reduce the influence of
anti-abortion groups.

Even though we’re devastated by the death of the Roe decision, a better
future can be realized. We can build a world that centers the needs of
Black women, trans, non-binary, and disabled people. Our bodily autonomy
should not depend on unelected justices pushing a white supremacist
agenda. We must work collectively to protect ourselves and our
communities.

Until justice is real, 
—Jade Magnus Ogunnaike and the Color Of Change team

P.S. Please [ [link removed] ]donate to abortion funds and [ [link removed] ]learn how to keep your
reproductive decisions private and secure.

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References: 

 1. Nina Totenberg and Sarah McCammon, “Supreme Court overturns Roe v.
Wade, ending right to abortion upheld for decades,” NPR, June 24,
2022,
[ [link removed] ][link removed]
 2. Elizabeth Nash and Lauren Cross, “26 States Are Certain or Likely to
Ban Abortion Without Roe: Here’s Which Ones and Why,” Guttmacher
Institute, October 28, 2021,
[ [link removed] ][link removed]
 3. Caroline Kitchener and Devlin Barrett, “Anti-abortion Lawmakers Want
To Block Patients From Crossing State Lines,” The Washington Post,
June 29, 2022,
[ [link removed] ][link removed] 
 4. “Court Lets Tennessee 6-Week Abortion Ban Take Effect,” US News, June
28, 2022,
[ [link removed] ][link removed] 
 5. Madiba Dennie and Jackie Fielding, “Miscarriage of Justice: The
Dangers of Criminalizing Pregnancy Outcomes,” Brennan Center for
Justice, November 9, 2021, 
[ [link removed] ][link removed]
 6. Patricia Hurtado and Francesca Maglione, “In a post-Roe world, more
miscarriage and stillbirth prosecutions await women,” Bloomberg, July
5, 2022,
[ [link removed] ][link removed]
 7. Ashley Nellis, “The Color of Justice: Racial and Ethnic Disparity in
State Prisons,” The Sentencing Project, October 13, 2021,
[ [link removed] ][link removed]
 8. Sarah Green Carmichael, “Criminalizing abortion will hurt Black women
most,” The Washington Post, June 26, 2022,
[ [link removed] ][link removed]
 9. Judd Legum and Rebecca Crosby, “These 13 Corporations have spent $15
Million supporting anti-abortion politicians since 2016,” Popular
Information, May 4, 2022,
[ [link removed] ][link removed]



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