ICYMI: Patients and Advocates from Across the Country Joined Free & Just and Democratic Women’s Caucus Members for “Conversations Across America” Event
WASHINGTON, DC –– Today, patients and advocates from across the country joined Free & Just and members of the Democratic Women’s Caucus for a virtual event to discuss how attacks on women's reproductive rights are affecting women across the country and how we can work together to protect and expand the economic security, health, and safety of all women and girls.
Abortion bans are killing women, and instead of taking steps to lower costs and protect access to care, Trump and Republicans are catering to anti-abortion extremists and working to roll back our rights even further. Every woman deserves access to quality, affordable health care and the freedom to make her own reproductive health care choices.
“I've talked to women who have moved to Colorado from other states with abortion restrictions because they had high risk pregnancies. They didn't want to be left to die if something terrible happened,” said Rep. Brittany Pettersen (CO-7). “I think that it is so important that we continue to bring abortion care to the forefront to remind people what women are going through across the country.”
“I was working at Planned Parenthood before I got into politics, and it was the 2016 election that catalyzed me to jump into elected office because I realized I couldn't raise enough money to protect abortion access and I needed to do it at the policy level,” said Rep. Emily Randall (WA-6). “No one should have to drive hundreds of miles to access health care. Everything this administration is doing is making it harder to access health care, including and especially abortion care.”
“Savannah is my home. I was raised under these live oak trees, and anti-abortion extremists aren’t going to make me a stranger in my own land. I was denied care that my doctor said that I needed immediately and I had to fight and beg and scramble in the worst moment of my life because of a law written by people who will never face what I faced. That's what we're living with in Georgia right now, and it makes me furious,” said Callie Beale Harper, a patient storyteller from Georgia who was forced to travel for lifesaving abortion care. “I tell my story as much as possible and sometimes that looks like speaking and encouraging women like me to share their stories. Sometimes it means infiltrating conservative church groups because I want them to see my face. I want them to see my daughter's face. I want them to see how much I love my children and want my children. That what happened to me can and will happen to them. That if they were in my shoes and faced with the decision that I was faced with, they would want the option for their daughter, granddaughter, best friend to have immediate care.”
“I think it's very important to make sure that people know their rights. If somebody is out of state, maybe they can access abortion care in New York or in a state that doesn't have an abortion ban. And then understanding what those steps look like to be able to access care after they've made that choice to seek care,” said Sunni Rudd, a patient storyteller and content creator from New York who received medication abortion care. “Sometimes low income communities will write themselves off before they've even looked into options because it is exhausting jumping through all of those hoops. A lot of the people in my comments are trying to find comprehensive information and I work really hard to point them in the right direction.”
You can watch the full event here. If you are interested in speaking with any of the participants in the event, or learning more about Free & Just, please contact malachi@freeandjust.us.
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