anger about the attack on abortion rights

Following the Politico leak of a draft opinion from the Supreme Court stating that the court plans on voting to overturn abortion rights.

Tuesday, May 3, 2022

As seen in my newsletter title, I am currently a college student in New York. This week is the beginning of my finals week. I have 3 essays and a spanish test all due in the next 7 days and ALL I can focus on is the news that came out late last night -- that a draft opinion from the Supreme Court was released by Politico stating that the court will most likely vote to overturn abortion rights. I know that I am not the only one distracted by the influx of upsetting news like this every day, week, month and year. I hope that this newsletter can provide information and resources about how to help with social justice and human rights issues that impact you too. 

This article contains the draft opinion written by Justice Samuel Alito (right-wing): https://www.politico.com/news/2022/05/02/read-justice-alito-initial-abortion-opinion-overturn-roe-v-wade-pdf-00029504 Justice Alito is not the only one to support the draft opinion. As written by Politico, “A person familiar with the court’s deliberations said that four of the other Republican-appointed justices – Clarence Thomas, Neil Gorsuch, Brett Kavanaugh and Amy Coney Barrett – had voted with Alito.¹” If the draft opinion were to pass, the right to abortion would turn back to the states. Meaning that a number of states - according to the New York Times, as many as 22 - would “would almost certainly move to ban or substantially restrict access to abortion.”² It is so clear that anti-abortion laws being passed by states are not pro-life. They are anti-woman. Many of them do not allow for abortion even in cases of rape, incest, or if the patient is underage. 

I don’t understand (I mean, I do but it is still so mind-bogglingly infuriating) how we have come to a point in this country that we are REVERSING Roe v. Wade, a Supreme Court decision made in 1973. WOMEN WILL CONTINUE TO HAVE ABORTIONS IN STATES WHERE IT IS BANNED REGARDLESS OF THIS DECISION. The difference will be that now women will face extreme physical danger in order to maintain THEIR OWN BODILY AUTONOMY. 

Everyone says that you should start by contacting lawmakers, etc. In all honesty I have lost faith that anything will/can be done by politicians in power right now. Here’s how I plan on helping (VERY much so inspired/selected by the list from ACLU³):

• Start or raise money for an abortion fund, so that all women can access safe abortions. For more information, visit www.nnaf.org. “The best thing you can do is donate to an abortion fund: an on-the-ground organization that helps arrange and pay for abortion care for patients who need it. In states where access has been whittled away almost entirely, these funds also help pay for transportation and lodging for patients who have to travel hours, sometimes crossing state lines, just to access health care.⁴”

  • Literally talk to your friends. In person, online, wherever. Tell them to donate to a clinic or organization that is reputable. If everyone you know contributes 5 dollars that’s better than nothing. 

  • You can find a list by The Cut here ordered by most in-need (states with lawmakers that will likely try to prohibit abortion) to least: https://www.thecut.com/article/donate-abortion-fund-roe-v-wade-how-to-help.html

• Join a clinic or escort service

  • https://www.plannedparenthood.org/planned-parenthood-north-central-states/get-involved/volunteer-clinic-escorts

  • In NY: https://www.wearenewyorkvalues.org/reproductive-rights

  • How to become an abortion clinic escort: https://www.thecut.com/2016/11/how-to-become-an-abortion-clinic-escort.html 

• ENCOURAGE PEOPLE TO VOTE and MAKE SURE THEY ARE REGISTERED. VOTE FOR REPRESENTATIVES WHO SUPPORT ABORTION RIGHTS

• Advocacy and information -- that’s what I’m trying to do with this newsletter right now. 

These are three tangible things I think I can do right now. There are so many others. If you go to NYU, go to Foley Square on May 3rd at 5:00 PM (it says to wear green but just show tf up). 

There are a number of sources that you can read from in order to understand more about abortion and the effect of overturning Roe v. Wade. Here they are:

Key questions and answers from the NYT: https://www.nytimes.com/2022/05/03/upshot/abortion-united-states-roe-wade.html

How abortions may be performed if rights are overturned: https://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/2022/05/roe-v-wade-overturn-abortion-rights/629366/

When abortions are performed: https://www.businessinsider.com/latest-point-in-pregnancy-you-can-get-abortion-in-50-states-2019-5

I will keep adding to this list when I have time. Right now I have to go to Spanish class and present on tourism in Argentina. I am so mad that NYU does not respond accordingly to huge issues with action. More on that later too. 

1. https://www.politico.com/news/2022/05/02/supreme-court-abortion-draft-opinion-00029473

2. https://www.nytimes.com/2021/12/05/upshot/abortion-without-roe-wade.html?action=click&module=RelatedLinks&pgtype=Article

3. https://www.aclu.org/other/keep-marching-what-you-can-do-protect-reproductive-freedom

4. https://www.thecut.com/article/donate-abortion-fund-roe-v-wade-how-to-help.html