Friday’s Supreme Court decision to overturn Roe v. Wade has enormous implications for racial, economic, and gender justice in America. Our team is still processing those implications and the anticipated impact to our staff, our families, our community, and our nation. Because limits on access to abortion disproportionately affect Black and brown women, especially those who are low-income, we recognize that our families will be those most negatively impacted by this decision. We also know that Black and brown communities already do not have reliable access to preventative healthcare and medical services, contraception, and comprehensive sexual education. Human rights organizations, including Human Rights Watch and the United Nations have made it clear that “access to safe and legal abortion is a matter of human rights, and its availability is the best way to protect autonomy and reduce maternal mortality and morbidity.”
The court’s action is yet another example of trying to police and criminalize Black and brown bodies– under the guise of morality– in order to advance white supremacy and patriarchy.
In the aftermath of this news, we want our families to know that we are determined to continue to fight for their rights and find ways to reduce the harm caused by this decision. While we might not have the answer immediately as to what that will look like, we know we will be engaged in conversations about what is needed in the short and long term. For now, we encourage everyone to please take care as we individually and collectively seek action, understanding, and healing.