Hey John,

It was 50 years ago today that the Supreme Court made its decision in the landmark case Roe v. Wade, granting a constitutional right to abortion. Every year since 1973, abortion rights activists have gathered on January 22nd to celebrate this historic victory in the fight for reproductive rights. However, this year things are different. It’s the first anniversary of Roe since the ruling was overturned this past summer by the conservative supermajority in the SCOTUS.

John, abortion access is under attack like never before. Pro-life Republicans across the country are trying to stop the sale of abortion pills at pharmacies, close abortion clinics in red states, and limit insurance coverage for abortion care. Without the shield of Roe v. Wade, these are dangerous times for reproductive rights.

If you’ve been following my story, you may know I’ve had fertility challenges in the past. Before I gave birth to my son Jordan, I had a series of miscarriages and even had a stillbirth. When I finally was able to deliver Jordan, he was my “miracle baby”. It’s infuriating to me that extremist Republicans are now seeking to criminalize one of the most tragic losses a woman can ever face – a miscarriage or a stillbirth.

I spoke more about this personal experience in an interview with CNN back in May. Please give it a watch if you’d like to learn more.

Despite Roe v. Wade being overturned, there’s still hope for a better path forward in the fight for abortion access. We’ve got a long fight ahead at the federal, state, and local levels to push back against draconian measures that harm women and families. I’m also filled with hope when I see the great work being done by advocates and grassroots supporters. The American people have made it clear that we won’t accept extremist restrictions on women’s bodies, and I’m prepared to help lead the way in Congress.

We must show a groundswell of public opposition to any assault on reproductive rights, or we will run the risk of setting ourselves back 50+ years. I hope you’ll join me in fighting for a brighter future for abortion access for women across America.

Sincerely,
Lucy McBath