Congresswoman Katherine Clark, Former Texas State Senator Wendy Davis, Patients, Providers, and Advocates Spotlight Anniversaries of Deadly Texas Abortion Bans

Watch the event here.

Austin, TX –– Today, Congresswoman Katherine Clark (MA-05) and former Texas State Senator Wendy Davis joined Free & Just patient and physician storytellers from across Texas to highlight how Trump-era and Republican-led attacks on abortion access are harming Texas families. Through the power of storytelling, patients and providers will spotlight not only deeply personal and painful moments, but also will uplift the real-world consequences of abortion bans.

The event kicked off a week of action in Texas, with advocates, storytellers, and partner organizations across the state spotlighting how abortion bans harm women and families. The week of action is bookended by two grim anniversaries: August 25th marks three years since the enactment of Texas’ trigger ban, which outlaws almost all abortions in the state, and September 1st marks four years since the enactment of SB 8 in 2021, which banned abortion after a fetal heartbeat is detected – usually around six weeks.

At the event, Congresswoman Clark, patient and physician storytellers, and community leaders shared how attacks on reproductive freedom harm women and families in Texas and across the country.

"For three years, Texas Republicans have systematically banned reproductive health care, criminalized doctors, and stripped their own residents of bodily autonomy,” said Democratic Whip Rep. Katherine Clark (MA-05). “Clinics are boarded up, doctors are fleeing the state, and innocent people are paying the price with their lives. And now, these extremists are doubling down and trying to take this chaos nationwide. The American people are fighting back – and we will not let up until we restore reproductive freedom in every state and every zip code.”

“Unfortunately, Texas tends to be ground zero for the passage of these impingements on our constitutional freedoms, and also, unfortunately, tends to write the playbook for so many other states. We see that not only in abortion bans on the restriction of abortion medication, the fight to try to restrict that medication and its use all over the country, but we're also seeing it with the dramatic defunding of reproductive health care,” said Former Texas Senator Wendy Davis. “When we are denying women the ability to control our own reproductive choices, when we are denying women the ability to control our own health, our lives, and our ability, of course to pursue becoming parents one day as we choose to do, and to live the life that we all deserve; These constraints, upon constraints, upon constraints are creating an absolute traumatic, dramatically terrible situation in the lives of women in our state — and it will continue to have consequences.”

“Instead of helping families recover after July’s devastating floods, instead of listening to Texans, the legislature has spent this session redrawing congressional maps to protect their power and advancing another cruel abortion ban,” said Kaitlyn Kash, an original plaintiff in Zurawski v. Texas. “As a Texan with firsthand experience of what happens when men hastily pass laws about medical care, I am terrified at the thought of what health care will look like if SB 7 passes. When my baby was diagnosed with a lethal fetal anomaly, I was sent home with my medical records and told to figure it out. I was then treated like a criminal for trying to access the medication that this bill targets for a subsequent miscarriage. And then I nearly died in childbirth because I needed a D&C, a procedure that is constantly caught up in these bans. That is what it looks like to live in Texas under our existing three abortion bans. And I have to ask, what will it look like under a fourth?” 

“I am here because Texas law forced me to flee my home state, not once but twice in one year, to receive abortion care that was medically necessary. I worry every day that more women in Texas will suffer, or even die, because of the extreme abortion bans that politicians have forced upon us,” said Hollie Cunningham, an original plaintiff in Zurawski v. Texas. “Since SB 8, since the Supreme Court's cruel Dobbs decision, and since Texas' trigger ban, dozens of women like me have been denied the care they need in the face of dangerous life-threatening pregnancies. No woman should ever be forced to suffer or risk her life because of an extreme political agenda. The fear, pain, and abandonment I felt will stay with me forever, but I will not stop speaking out. My hope is that by sharing my story and by standing together, we can make change. We can restore reproductive freedom, not only for Texas women, but for women across this country.”

“Despite taking every step I could as a teenager to be proactive about my reproductive health, and being in no position to navigate pregnancy or parenthood, I was forced to schedule an appointment a month out and travel over 700 miles, or 11 hours, from San Antonio, TX to Albuquerque, NM to access an abortion,” said DakotaRei Frausto, a college student who struggled to access birth control as a teenager. “To complacent politicians, we are nothing more than numbers. We are not patients, friends, mothers, or daughters. My abortion saved my life. It opened doors. It allowed me to invest in my community and myself and recognize the power an individual can have. And this is exactly why Texas is relentless in its attacks on all forms of reproductive justice. Pregnancy should not be a death sentence, and abortion should not be a prison sentence. Texans deserve to have a say in how they have children, don't have children, and raise the children they have in safe, sustainable environments.”

“As the mother of three wonderful children, I know how beautiful and special pregnancy and motherhood can be. However, as a doctor, I also know that pregnancy is not without risks. Abortion restrictions rob people of choice and make my job harder to do,” said Dr. Anitra Beasley, obstetrician gynecologist. “During SB 8, it was heart-wrenching to tell people that they could not have an abortion, because there was cardiac activity in their five-week pregnancy. To walk out of the room and hear a patient that had been so stoic during the appointment sobbing because they know that they could not get out of state and would have to continue the pregnancy. Now post Dobbs, these patients are often unseen and left out of conversations, but they should not be forgotten. I stay here practicing in Texas because I am a Texan, and my fellow Texans need a good doctor and good health care, but it is hard. It is hard to be constrained by harmful laws that do not help women. We should be doing everything in our power to help women lead healthy lives, have healthy pregnancies, and have healthy outcomes.”

Texas has imposed more abortion restrictions than almost any other state, but extremist lawmakers want to go even further. Last week, the Houston Chronicle’s editorial board blasted Texas Republicans for advancing SB 7, the dangerous bill being considered during the second special legislative session, allowing private citizens to sue anyone who provides abortion medication — even when it’s used to save a woman’s life. 

If you are interested in speaking with any of the storytellers quoted above, or any other Texas storytellers impacted by the state’s abortion bans, please contact kelly@freeandjust.us and malachi@freeandjust.us.

On Third Anniversary of Amber Nicole Thurman’s Death, Senator Jon Ossoff Joins Family and Community Members at Free & Just Vigil Honoring Women Killed by Georgia’s Abortion Ban

ATLANTA, GA –– Today, Senator Jon Ossoff (D-GA), joined Shanette Williams, whose daughter, Amber Nicole Thurman, lost her life as a result of Georgia’s abortion ban, and Turiya Tomlin-Randall, whose sister, Candi Miller was killed by the state’s ban, at a vigil hosted by Free & Just to mark the third anniversary of Amber’s passing and demand justice for all those impacted by abortion bans.

In November 2024, ProPublica reported on the preventable deaths of Amber Nicole Thurman and Candi Miller, two mothers who lost their lives as a result of Georgia’s extreme abortion ban. Details included in reports from Georgia’s Maternal Mortality Review Committee, which investigates pregnancy-related deaths in the state, confirm that both women’s deaths were preventable, and the result of limited access to timely medical care. 

At the event, US Senator Jon Ossoff pledged to continue supporting Amber and Candi’s families. “Amber was a daughter and also a mother, and I have had the honor of getting to know her son in the last few years. Amber was taken from her mother, taken from her siblings, perhaps most unforgivably, taken from her own child. We are all here to stand alongside Amber and Candi’s families. This entire community has your back now and forever.”

In remarks shared by a member of his team, Senator Reverend Raphael Warnock reflected on the preventable deaths of Amber and Candi, and honored the courage of their families, who continue to share their stories. “The loss of these two women was immeasurable, and their absence will be long felt by those who knew and loved them best – and in the hearts and minds of people across Georgia.” The Senator continued, “I commend your efforts to continue to fight for quality health care that protects women and provides all patients with the dignity and access they deserve.”

“Three years ago, my entire family’s lives changed forever,” said Shanette Williams, Amber Nicole Thurman’s mother, who continues to share Amber’s story to prevent other families from suffering like hers has. “When I found out what really happened to Amber, my grief turned into a fight and I became an advocate for our rights. This fight is not just about me and my family – I am fighting for change for every woman – and we are going to get change.” 

“We shouldn’t have to do this, but we wake up every day and face the loss of our loved ones,” said Turiya Tomlin-Randall, Candi Miller’s sister, who traveled from out-of-state to participate in the event and honor her sister and Amber Nicole Thurman. “My sister’s children will never get to see their mother again because Georgia law left her too afraid to go to the hospital. This is going to continue to happen. That is why we have to speak up and fight these attacks on reproductive rights. No one should be telling us what we’re able to do with our bodies.”

Abortion bans are killing women across the country, and instead of working to expand access to care, Trump and extremists in Congress just jammed through dangerous cuts that will strip millions of people from health care, leaving more lives at risk. Now more than ever, we must amplify the stories of people affected by these attacks and help people across the country understand how gutting access to abortion and reproductive care unravels lives, and puts people and families in impossible, sometimes life-threatening situations.

If you are interested in speaking with Shanette Williams or Turiya Tomlin-Randall, please contact kelly@freeandjust.us.

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Free & Just is fighting to stop attacks on reproductive freedom and rights. We’re working with people across the country to share real stories to show the devastating consequences of attacks on our reproductive freedom. We all deserve the right to control our bodies and lives. That’s why we’re sharing our stories, raising our voices, and fighting for our future.

ICYMI: Houston Chronicle Editorial Board on Texas Republicans’ Latest Scheme: “Another Texas abortion bill that’s anything but pro-life”

“Lawmakers should focus instead on flood relief and prevention, not extreme policies that threaten women.”

TEXAS – Today, the Houston Chronicle’s editorial board blasted Texas Republicans for advancing SB 7, a dangerous bill that would let private citizens sue anyone who provides abortion medication — even when it’s used to save a woman’s life.Texas lawmakers began a second special legislative session on Friday, August 15, and immediately rushed to introduce SB 7, dangerous new legislation that would allow any private person to sue manufacturers, distributors, or doctors who provide abortion medication — even when the medications are used to save the life of a pregnant woman.

The Chronicle's editorial board urges lawmakers to face the reality of Texas’ rising maternal mortality rate, and listen to the doctors warnings: politicians are threatening the very tools used to save women’s lives.

“Texas would like to imagine itself as the most pro-baby state. Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick and the Senate he leads are now sending the opposite message. In a state that once addressed maternal mortality with doctor-informed recommendations and lifesaving tools, now lawmakers are threatening those very tools.”

The editorial board also criticizes the undemocratic measures taken by Texas Republicans, who seem keen to keep the public at arm’s length while they jam through a deadly new abortion ban. 

“Republican lawmakers appear eager to rush it through this time, too: the bill was filed and voted on by committee before the dust even settled Friday — or important stakeholders were notified of the hearing. Lawmakers should focus instead on flood relief and prevention, not extreme policies that threaten women.”

“Abortion bans are already killing women in Texas. Now Republican lawmakers – at the Trump administration’s direction - are rigging the system with more restrictions that leave patients in crisis without access to care,” said Veronica Ingham, Senior Campaigns Director for Free & Just.

If you are interested in connecting with Texas patients, providers, or advocates about what is at stake for women and families across the state right now, please contact Kelly Rimar (kelly.rimar@freeandjust.us). 

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Free & Just is fighting to stop attacks on reproductive freedom and rights. We’re working with people across the country to share real stories to show the devastating consequences of attacks on our reproductive freedom. We all deserve the right to control our bodies and lives. That’s why we’re sharing our stories, raising our voices, and fighting for our future.

ICYMI: Councilmember Liliana Bakhtiari and Local Advocates Join Free & Just at Mural Unveiling Honoring Georgia Women Lost to Abortion Ban

Atlanta, GA  –– Atlanta City Councilmember Liliana Bakhtiari, local partners, and advocates joined Free & Just  to unveil a mural by local artist Jasmine Nicole Williams honoring Amber Nicole Thurman and Candi Miller, two Georgia mothers who lost their lives as a result of the state’s abortion ban. The unveiling comes just days before the third anniversary of the Supreme Court’s deadly Dobbs decision, which ripped away the right to safe and legal abortion. In the years since, attacks on reproductive freedom have continued to escalate, and women in Georgia and across the country have lost their lives as a result of abortion bans and restrictions.

These aren’t isolated incidents. Right now, we know of five confirmed deaths due to abortion bans in Texas and Georgia. But we know that there are more and Republican officials in Georgia and other states are going out of their way to suppress and hide information about lives lost to abortion bans. 

At the event, local patient storytellers, health care providers, and community members shared how attacks on reproductive freedom harm women and families in Georgia and across the country.

“It is devastating what we’re seeing here in Georgia,” said Atlanta City Councilmember Liliana Bakhtiari, who represents District 5. “When you strip away bodily autonomy, it affects families and the health of everyone in our communities.”

“We mourn and honor the lives of Adriana Smith, Candi Miller, and Amber Nicole Thurman. These women died preventable deaths after they were denied or prevented from accessing emergency abortion care,” said Director of Georgia Campaigns for Reproductive Freedom for All, Alicia Stallworth. “We can not and we will not stop fighting for reproductive freedom, because we deserve dignity, safety, and access to lifesaving care.” 

“This is personal. These weren’t just names you read in a headline. These were women in our communities, and they’ve left behind families as a consequence of Georgia’s draconian abortion ban,” said Jaylen Black withPlanned Parenthood Southeast Advocates. “If we do not take a stand to protect our health care at this moment, unfortunately, the women we see on this wall will not be the only ones lost to our abortion ban.”

“When I learned about the preventable deaths of Amber Nicole Thurman and Candi Miller, my heart shattered. I was angry, and I didn’t know what to do,” said Jasmine Nicole Williams, the artist who designed the mural. “The brutality of their deaths is a howling cry to the collective. We have to stand up and fight back.”

“This is not a woman’s issue, this is a people’s issue,” said Dr. Karenne Fru, MD, PHD, FACOG, an OB-GYN and the owner of Muna Fertility. “There is a reason people go to med school – we want to help people. We want to make others’ lives better. These lawmakers never went to med school – what gives them the right to interfere in medical decisions?” 

“How many times do we have to see this happen? How many times do we have to do this?” asked Davan'te Jennings, the Youth Organizing Director with Men4Choice, an organization dedicated to drawing men off the sidelines in the fight for reproductive freedom. “People love to tell men to be more macho, to protect our families. Standing up for reproductive freedom is the most manly thing we can do.” 

If you are interested in speaking with any of the participants in the press event, please contact kelly@freeandjust.us. 

Free & Just is committed to fighting for reproductive freedom. Join us in sharing stories, raising voices, and securing our future. 

Senator Patty Murray Hosts Roundtable with Patient Storytellers and Providers Amid GOP Attacks on Abortion and Access to Health Care

SEATTLE, WA ––Today, Senator Patty Murray hosted a roundtable with local patients, providers, and advocates to highlight how Trump-era and Republican-led attacks on abortion and access to health care are harming families. Together, they’ll set the record straight about what’s at stake as Trump and GOP lawmakers push for a nationwide ban on abortion.

In July, President Trump signed into law a massive spending package that defunds Planned Parenthood and slashes health coverage for millions of people. The same officials who say they want to “leave abortion up to the states” are exploiting the power of the federal government to roll back our rights even further – and the consequences will be devastating.

At the roundtable, Senator Murray, patient and physician storytellers, and community leaders shared how attacks on reproductive freedom harm women and families across the country.

“The horror stories caused by abortion bans have not stopped since Republicans ended the right to abortion, implemented cruel bans, and plunged this country into a full-blown health care crisis. And unfortunately, Republican attacks on abortion care have not stopped,” said US Senator Patty Murray. “But we are still pushing back and fighting for reproductive rights in every way we can. As Appropriations Vice Chair, I am working to reject Trump’s proposal to slash Title X and eliminate the Teen Pregnancy Prevention program, among other awful ideas. The funding bill we passed out of committee last week funds these programs. Democrats are pushing to reverse the damage from Trump’s Big Ugly Bill, so we can restore Planned Parenthood funds, save patients from losing care, and save hospitals. And we are keeping our spotlight on how Republicans’ anti-abortion extremism is hurting women every day. From abortion care to rural hospitals, health care is under attack here in America. The fight to change this is today and every day until we can reverse these cuts and keep making progress.”

“My husband serves in the Air Force, and attacks on reproductive freedom and access to health care feel like a slap in the face. We worry about the hostility of the next state we are stationed in,” said Emily Cuarenta, a student at Eastern Washington University who lives with her husband on an Air Force base in Spokane. “The Dobbs decision opened the floodgates to oppressive, medically inaccurate laws that endanger the lives of pregnant people. In addition to suffering poor maternal health outcomes, pregnant people now fear criminalization of their pregnancy outcomes.”

“The’ Big Ugly Bill’ strips people of their access to reproductive health care, their choices in family planning and their fundamental human right to health care,” said Dr. Keemi Ereme, an OB/GYN and Complex Family Planning Fellow at the University of Washington. “This legislation will lead to many preventable deaths, and that is simply unacceptable.”

“Planned Parenthood affiliates in Washington provide high quality reproductive health care to more than 100,000 patients every year, including patients who come across state lines because their state has eliminated preventive care access and banned abortions entirely. But care in Washington is at risk like it is everywhere else: the Republican budget bill will eliminate health insurance for tens of thousands of Washingtonians, and will defund Planned Parenthood by banning us from Medicaid,” said Rebecca Gibron, CEO, Planned Parenthood Great Northwest, Hawaiʻi, Alaska, Indiana, Kentucky.

“Without support from state and local governments to fill the gap, health centers in Washington will close and patients will lose access to care. We are thankful to Senator Murray for being the national leader on reproductive health and rights as she fights to restore funding and reverse the ban, and we are thankful for leaders in Washington who are committed to finding local revenue to keep our doors open.”

“I did my residency training as a family physician in Idaho and have stayed all these years to practice because Idaho had built a safe system of care that I was proud to be a part of, one where I could care for my small rural community to the best of my ability and training, and refer my patients to higher level of care when they needed it. All of that changed when the Dobbs decision triggered Idaho’s extreme and dangerous near total abortion ban into effect,” said Dr. Caitlin Gustafson, a family physician who practices in rural Idaho, and the co-president of the Idaho Coalition for Safe Healthcare. “The reduction in this workforce further threatens healthcare access, not just for women but for all Idahoans. With Medicaid cuts looming, our ability to do our jobs to keep our communities safe and healthy will become that much more difficult. Still, I remain hopeful because, as in the rest of America, most Idahoans believe that healthcare decisions are best left to patients and their families in consultation with their doctor, not their politicians.”

Access to safe and legal abortion through Planned Parenthood saved my life,” said Heather Mullin, a patient storyteller and local advocate from the Seattle area. “I was the victim of a predator who was a respected person in our community and used his position of power and access to harm children. He once told me that he had noticed me when I was in the sixth grade, which makes me about 11 years old. I was repeatedly sexually assaulted from the age of 13 until I became pregnant when I was 15. And I knew that when I became pregnant at the time that I was not going to have the baby. I felt very afraid and alone, and I didn’t want my abuser’s baby to be my life sentence. So, I sought out a legal and safe abortion at Planned Parenthood. I took the bus during spring break of my freshman year of high school, when my parents thought I was at track practice. And I got an abortion, and nobody knew about it for a really long time—and I didn’t really talk about it publicly until the Dobbs decision. And I really felt it was important for people to know that there are all sorts of reasons for having an abortion, that you probably know someone who has had an abortion. And when I started talking about my story, I realized it was really a much more common experience than we sometimes think about and talk about. In our current state where we have outright abortion bans, including no exclusions for rape or incest, we’re talking about forcing children to give birth. And that’s the kind of thing that really keeps me up tonight, and why I’m here today to talk about the importance of funding abortion care and access to abortion. It’s disturbing to me that some of our government officials seem to be protecting predators instead of victims.”

“In the fall of 2022, just one day after Idaho’s abortion ban took effect, my family received the devastating news that our very wanted son had several fatal fetal anomalies and there were no surgical interventions available,” said Kayla Smith, who moved her family from Idaho to Washington after being forced to flee the state for lifesaving abortion care. “In 2023, when I was pregnant with my youngest daughter, we moved our family to Washington state out of fear. Idaho was no longer a safe place to raise our daughters. The truth is that abortion bans do not save lives –– they put them at risk, and cutting Medicaid will only make matters worse. Getting an abortion is now a privilege, when it should be health care that is readily available to anyone who needs one or chooses to have one.”  Smith is a former plaintiff in Adkins v. State of Idaho, a landmark lawsuit challenging Idaho’s extreme abortion ban. 

Today’s roundtable is part of Free & Just’s “Summer Storytelling Series,” featuring patient storytellers, local partners, and lawmakers in communities across the country to amplify the human cost of abortion bans. Later this month, Free & Just will be joined by local lawmakers, patients, providers, and advocates in Georgia and North Carolina. 

You can watch the event here. If you are interested in speaking with any of the participants in the press event, please contact kelly@freeandjust.us. 

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Congressman Lloyd Doggett, Local Lawmakers, Patients, and Providers Highlight Continued Attacks on Reproductive Freedom at Field Hearing

AUSTIN, TX –– Today, Congressman Lloyd Doggett (TX-37), joined by State Senator Sarah Eckhardt, State Representative Donna Howard, and Austin Mayor Pro Tem Vanessa Fuentes, held a field hearing in Austin to hear from local patients, providers, and advocates as attacks on reproductive freedom continue to escalate in Texas and nationwide. Despite the devastating loss of at least 135 lives from the July 4 floods, Governor Abbott is calling on lawmakers to use the special session to roll back abortion access and reproductive care.

The field hearing was an important opportunity for Texans to share their stories, and voice their fears, concerns, and anger about ongoing attacks on reproductive freedom in Texas and across the country.

At the hearing, Congressman Doggett, patient storytellers, and community leaders shared how attacks on reproductive freedom harm women and families in Texas and across the country.

“I salute the many brave voices who publicly shared their painful experiences in pursuit of a day when no person is forced to the brink of death in order to receive lifesaving care,” said Congressman Doggett (TX-37). “As extremists work to enact a national abortion ban, Governor Abbott and the Texas GOP are rushing through a crooked map to rig elections and give Donald Trump five more Republican anti-choice, rubber-stamp votes for this cruel agenda. Texans will not be silenced while women’s health, our democracy, and our freedoms are at stake.” 

“During a Special Session that should be all about how we recover and become more resilient together, Republican state leaders have had their eyes on Washington instead of Texas, working overtime to complete a power grab that will further strip Texans of their voice in the halls of power,” said Senator Sarah Eckhardt (SD-14). “In the way of authoritarians, Republicans have ignored the years of proposals that have been brought forth to actually secure the autonomy, health, and life of women in this state in favor of control and entrapment. That is not what protection; that is political extremism hijacking democracy.”

“Today, we heard from Texans whose lives have been forever changed due to the state’s near-total abortion ban. They have been forced to endure trauma no person should have to endure,” said Texas Women’s Health Caucus Chair Donna Howard. “The fact is, Texas’ abortion laws are not about protecting women; they are deliberate steps towards control. If Texas Republicans want to protect women, then they should support laws that guarantee the right to access all forms of reproductive healthcare. Instead, Texas Republicans have passed laws meant to intimidate physicians, ban safe and essential abortion medication, and even incentivize private citizens to report others - sometimes just for giving someone gas money to get to an abortion facility. We have the power to change this, but to do that, we must elect a pro-abortion majority to the Texas Legislature. I will always stand firm in supporting a person’s right to bodily autonomy and self-determination.”

”Nobody should have to risk their life or dignity to receive healthcare,” said Austin Mayor Pro Tem Vanessa Fuentes. “By weaponizing the Central Texas flood crisis, state leaders are sending a clear message that Texans' wellbeing will always come second to an agenda built on contempt and control over women. Their goal was never to preserve life, but to wield power over it. I’m grateful to the courageous leaders who spoke out today. Their bravery only underscores the fear-driven cowardice of far too many state leaders.”

“Texas’ abortion ban is putting patients, and the providers who treat them, in impossible, sometimes life-threatening positions. Women are dying, families are suffering, and medical professionals’ hands are being tied,” said Dr. Donnell Oliver, a local OB/GYN based in the Austin area. “I speak to Austin women every week who fear being pregnant in our state. Patients ask if they need to leave the state to have their babies to make sure they are alive to care for them. This is not an exaggeration, it is a painful fact. My patients will always come first, and I am pleading with the state of Texas to let me do my job – to save lives – without political interference.” 

Today’s hearing kicks off Free & Just’s “Summer Storytelling Series,” featuring patient storytellers, local partners, and lawmakers in communities across the country to amplify the human cost of abortion bans. Next week, Free & Just will be joined by Senator Patty Murray in Seattle, Washington for a roundtable with local patients, providers, and advocates impacted by attacks on reproductive freedom.

You can watch the event here. If you are interested in speaking with any of the participants in the press event, or learning more about Free & Just’s “Summer Storytelling Series,” please contact kelly@freeandjust.us.

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Free & Just to Host “Summer Storytelling Series” with Patients, Doctors, and Advocates Across the Country to Highlight Latest GOP Attacks on Abortion Access

Lawmakers and advocates to join Free & Just at events in Texas, Washington, Georgia, North Carolina, and more!

WASHINGTON, DC –– Throughout the month of August, Free & Just is partnering with patient storytellers, local partners, and lawmakers in communities across the country for a “Summer Storytelling Series” to amplify the stories of real people impacted by attacks on abortion and reproductive freedom. 

With events in Texas, Washington, Georgia, and North Carolina, Free & Just “Summer Storytelling Series” is an opportunity for patients and advocates to highlight how Trump-era and Republican-led attacks on abortion access are ending women’s lives and harming families — even in states where abortion remains legal. Together, they’ll set the record straight on what’s at stake as Trump and GOP lawmakers push for a nationwide ban on abortion. 

“Abortion bans are killing women across the country, and instead of working to expand access to care, Trump and extremists in Congress just jammed through a disastrous budget with dangerous cuts that will strip millions of people of access to health care, leaving millions more lives at risk,” said Veronica Ingham, Senior Campaigns Director for Free & Just. “Since returning to office, President Trump and Republican lawmakers have waged a coordinated campaign to roll back reproductive rights and weaponize the government against patients, providers, and facts. From slashing Medicaid to attempting to illegally close down Planned Parenthood, Trump and his allies are targeting our health and our freedom. Now more than ever, we must be clear about what’s at stake as extremists work to ban abortion nationwide – even in states where it is still legal.”

The event series follows the Our Voices, Our Stories, Our Future: Free & Just Storyteller Summit which brought more than 100 storytellers from 39 states across the country to our nation's capital to amplify the human cost of abortion bans. Equipped with powerful new advocacy skills and a meaningful sense of community, patient storytellers, doctors, and local leaders will highlight what’s at stake for their families.

For more information about Free & Just’s “Summer Storytelling Series” and event details, contact Kelly Rimar (kelly@freeandjust.us). 

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Free & Just is fighting to stop attacks on reproductive freedom and rights. We’re working with people across the country to share real stories to show the devastating consequences of attacks on our reproductive freedom. We all deserve the right to control our bodies and lives. That’s why we’re sharing our stories, raising our voices, and fighting for our future.

ICYMI: Heather Martell Addresses House Members on the Dangers of Extreme Abortion Bans at Spotlight Hearing

The hearing on “Republican Attacks on Reproductive Freedom” marked three years since the deadly Dobbs decision.

Washington, DC –– Today, Free & Just storyteller, Heather Martell, joined House Leadership, the House Democratic Steering and Policy Committee, the Democratic Women’s Caucus, and the Reproductive Freedom Caucus, at a spotlight hearing on the devastating consequences of abortion bans following the deadly Dobbs decision.

The hearing follows the Our Voices, Our Stories, Our Future: Free & Just Storyteller Summit, where Free & Just hosted more than 100 patient storytellers including Heather, health care providers, and advocates from 32 states across the country to amplify the human cost of abortion bans and mark the third anniversary of the overturning of Roe v. Wade. 

During the hearing, the Supreme Court ruled that states can block people relying on Medicaid from choosing Planned Parenthood as their trusted health care provider, a devastating blow to abortion rights and reproductive health care – specifically, the freedom of millions of people who use Medicaid to choose Planned Parenthood as their health care provider. 

At the hearing, Heather shared her story with House Democratic members and highlighted the need to fight for reproductive freedom, defend against government overreach, and keep extremist politicians out of decisions made between doctors and their patients.

Watch full remarks here, Highlights below:

“2006 was the first time I was pregnant. I wanted to keep my baby. I had named my baby Lucy. I miscarried. My OBGYN, unknown to me at the time, was a member of a professional organization of Pro-Life doctors. She refused to treat my miscarriage. She refused to see me while I was still bleeding. She refused to refer me to another doctor – in fact, she went as far as to cancel an appointment I made with another OBGYN at the same clinic. 

When asked what would happen if I went to the ER, I was told that my OBGYN would be called, and I would be discharged. I had an incomplete miscarriage. I bled for weeks – From March 17 until mid-May. Giant clots. Bleeding through at least a pad an hour at times. I was so weak, I often couldn’t get out of bed. I called my OBGYN and begged for help, a D&C, medication, anything. I was met with hostility and told not to call again until I was no longer bleeding. I could have died, because of a Pro-Life OBGYN. These are the same doctors that advise the GOP and support abortion bans. They don’t care about their patients. They don’t care if we live or die. Mine certainly didn’t. I was barely 19 years old at the time. 

In 2008, I had my son. A beautiful baby boy. The people in my life, my mother, and the man that impregnated me, tried to pressure me into an abortion. I stood my ground, and I thank God every day that I did. Being Pro-Choice doesn’t mean aborting every pregnancy. It means “mind your own business.”

“After years of struggling with infertility, and the costly, invasive infertility treatments, we conceived, naturally, in 2021. His name was Oliver. A mother knows when something isn’t right. The entire pregnancy, I felt as though something was off. So, we tested. 

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“If our baby made it to delivery, he would suffer a horrible, prolonged death, and we would bankrupt ourselves – financially, mentally and emotionally – to try to make Oliver’s only moments with us less physically painful for him.

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“We made the choice, as Oliver’s parents, that we could not let him suffer. That it would be better for all of us, Oliver included, if we provided him with a good death, a quick death, before his brain had a chance to develop pain receptors. Oliver would never know pain, discomfort, hunger, cold, loneliness, or fear….

Fetal death was quick. A shot of digoxin to the heart and he was gone in seconds. The next day, he was surgically removed from my body. We had to leave our home, our community, our State, to receive medical care. If I could not access abortion care, I was prepared to kill myself to prevent my son’s suffering.”

“Shame on Republican lawmakers for even suggesting that because I did the right thing for my son, Oliver, I should be imprisoned or, according to some politicians, even put to death. Shame on them for attempting to criminalize abortion and miscarriage. Shame on the American people for allowing this. My plea today is that you fight government overreach and interference, and you let mothers be mothers. They know what is best for their children, their families and themselves.”

If you are interested in speaking with Heather Martell about her experience in DC during the hearing or summit, or as a storyteller based in Wisconsin living in a post Roe world, please contact kelly@freeandjust.us. If you are interested in learning more about the research gathered regarding state-level abortion bans and federal activity, please contact malachi@freeandjust.us. 

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Free & Just is fighting to stop attacks on reproductive freedom and rights. We’re working with people across the country to share real stories to show the devastating consequences of attacks on our reproductive freedom. We all deserve the right to control our bodies and lives. That’s why we’re sharing our stories, raising our voices, and fighting for our future.

BREAKING: Supreme Court Rules States Can Deny Medicaid Funding to Planned Parenthood

SCOTUS paves the way for states to defund Planned Parenthood and deny millions of Americans essential reproductive care  

WASHINGTON, DC –– Today, the Supreme Court issued a ruling that allows states to block people relying on Medicaid from choosing Planned Parenthood as their trusted health care provider. Nearly three years to the day after the deadly Dobbs decision, the Court dealt yet another blow to abortion rights and reproductive health care – specifically, the freedom of millions of people who use Medicaid to choose Planned Parenthood as their health care provider. The decision comes as anti-abortion extremists double down on efforts to restrict access nationwide. 

KEY POINTS

• Medicaid is a critical source of health coverage for over 70 million people in America. It is also extremely popular — According to recent data from Navigator Research, an overwhelming majority of Americans have a favorable view of Medicaid.

• Nearly 17 million women of reproductive age receive health coverage through Medicaid, and more than 40% of births in the U.S. are covered by Medicaid. 

• Excluding Planned Parenthood from Medicaid means millions of people won’t be able to see their trusted provider for birth control, STI testing and treatment, annual exams, and cancer screenings. 

“Today’s decision from the Supreme Court puts millions of Americans' essential right to reproductive care at risk,” said Veronica Ingham, Senior Campaigns Director for Free & Just. “Almost three years to the day after the deadly Dobbs decision, conservatives have once again used the highest court in the land to effectively ban access abortion care, all while Republicans in Congress are trying to gut Medicaid for millions more Americans. This decision will devastate communities across the country.”

The decision, penned by conservative Trump appointee Justice Neil Gorsuch solidifies efforts in South Carolina to prevent Planned Parenthood from receiving Medicaid funding. But, Medina v. Planned Parenthood is part of a larger, coordinated attack on Medicaid, Title X, Planned Parenthood, and other health care providers that offer abortion and reproductive health care. The consequences of this case could lead to other restrictions that strip access to other abortion and reproductive health care and jeopardize a person’s right to see any health care provider of their choice. 

If you are interested in speaking with patient storytellers or health care providers who may be impacted by this decision, please contact kelly@freeandjust.us. 

Free & Just is committed to fighting for reproductive freedom. Join us in sharing stories, raising voices, and securing our future. 

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Free & Just is fighting to stop attacks on reproductive freedom and rights. We’re working with people across the country to share real stories to show the devastating consequences of attacks on our reproductive freedom. We all deserve the right to control our bodies and lives. That’s why we’re sharing our stories, raising our voices, and fighting for our future.

On Third Anniversary of Deadly Dobbs Decision, 100+ Abortion Patients, Providers, and Advocates Join Free & Just in DC

WASHINGTON, DC –– Today, more than 100 patient storytellers, health care providers, and advocates from across the country joined Free & Just in Washington, DC to mark the third anniversary of the deadly Dobbs decision, which ended Roe v. Wade and upended the lives of millions. 

With special guest appearances from powerful advocates for reproductive freedom, including Vice President Kamala Harris, the Our Voices, Our Stories, Our Future: Free & Just Storyteller Summit brought storytellers from 32 states across the country to our nation's capital to amplify the human cost of abortion bans.

Today, Free & Just spent the day on Capitol Hill with all 100+ storytellers to meet with more than 60 members of Congress and share why three years after the deadly Dobbs decision, access to abortion remains a priority for millions of Americans. 

“The third anniversary of the deadly Dobbs decision is painful, and it comes amid escalating attacks on our communities,” said Veronica Ingham, Senior Campaigns Director for Free & Just. “From stacking our courts with dangerous new extremist judges, to gutting protections that guarantee access to lifesaving medical care, President Trump and Republican lawmakers are trying to roll back our rights even further. This week, more than 100 powerful voices from across the country pledged to stand up to these attacks and continue telling the truth about life in post-Roe America. Free & Just is honored to work with so many courageous storytellers, and we are ready for the fight ahead.”

Interested in connecting with storytellers who participated in the Summit or accessing footage from the three day Summit?

Please complete this media request form and we will be in touch to coordinate. 

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Free & Just is fighting to stop attacks on reproductive freedom and rights. We’re working with people across the country to share real stories to show the devastating consequences of attacks on our reproductive freedom. We all deserve the right to control our bodies and lives. That’s why we’re sharing our stories, raising our voices, and fighting for our future.