Since the Supreme Court ruled on Friday to overturn Roe v. Wade, abortion is now banned in at least nine eight states (Louisiana's trigger ban was temporarily blocked while I wrote this). The New York Times is tracking these developments.
Rewire News Group's "Boom! Lawyered" podcast released a rapid-response episode on Friday the 24th: The Day 'Roe' Died. Rewire News also has full coverage of the court case and its aftermath.
The Guardian explores the role of gerrymandering in states with restrictive abortion laws.
A variety of digital security threats face abortion patients and their supporters in the post-Roe landscape. The Digital Defense Fund has released a "Keep Your Abortion Private and Secure" guide with specific tips on how to protect your privacy. The advice goes well beyond simply deleting your period-tracking apps.
Across social media, pro-choice activists in "safe" states where abortion remains legal have been posting messages indicating that others are welcome to visit them and stay overnight while they receive abortion care. While such individual-level actions are rooted in good intentions, more experienced activists implore people to get involved in the abortion support network organizing that has been in place since before the Dobbs decision of 2022. Those interested in fundraising for abortion are encouraged to contact their local abortion fund via the National Network of Abortion Funds. Those interested in providing practical support (e.g., travel, lodging, childcare) are invited to reach out to their local practical support organization. The legal status of this work is still being examined.
Currently, clinics and their supporters are scrambling to get care for patients who already had their procedures scheduled prior to the ruling. Keep this in mind when reaching out to provide support. One twitter user I saw suggested putting a reminder in your calendar for a week from now -- support will continue to be needed and it is important to practice both self-care and community-care, and to maintain our own health and wellbeing in order to continue supporting others. Rebecca Traister writes for The Cut about the necessity of hope in these challenging times.
To encourage being informed and prepared, Abortion Access Nashville has put together a template to help users create an abortion plan. Remember that abortion rights now vary greatly depending on where you live. Plan accordingly, and reach out for help when you need it. The All-Options Talkline is a pro-choice hotline that is available to discuss your options with you (call toll-free 1-888-493-0092).
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