In the wake of the Supreme Court decision to overturn Roe v. Wade, we are outraged but remain determined. Even though we anticipated this reversal, the decision shook us to our core. Abortion bans and restrictions disproportionately criminalize and disproportionately impact Black, Brown, AAPI, Queer, Trans, disabled, immigrant, poor and working class people. Our communities historically face stigmatization and barriers to abortion access and healthcare, and this decision only causes further harm. We here in Ohio are seeing the immediate effects of the Supreme Court decision with the 6 week abortion ban in effect, just hours after Roe was overturned. This violence and oppression against our AAPI and BIPOC communities cannot stand.
Let us be clear. Abortion care is essential and compassionate healthcare. Healthcare is a human right. Banning abortion will cause unnecessary suffering and death, especially for the most vulnerable members of Ohio and the U.S. We have already seen the devastating effects of abortion bans and restrictions in states with the most restrictive abortion laws, where their maternal mortality rates are nearly double that of states with protected abortion access.
The need for abortion will continue to exist regardless of the decisions of the courts and state and we at OPAWL will continue to support and care for women and non-binary/trans people who need abortions. AAPIs overwhelmingly support the right for all people to decide their own reproductive futures. Our commitment to individual bodily autonomy and abortion access will never falter.
We reject these violent rulings from an undemocratic white supremacist institution, and refuse to accept that our bodies and our lives are not our own. Our AAPI communities have relied on community care and on one another—not to merely survive these oppressive systems and attacks on our lives—but to thrive, to flourish, to grow. “We Keep Us Safe” continues to be our commitment to one another. An essential part of that safety includes access to abortion care.
For those in Ohio, follow the reproductive justice folks who have been on the ground and in our communities for decades and donate to support their work. Encourage the people in your networks to do the same. Many have been preparing for this moment for decades and have the systems and infrastructure in place to help Ohioans access abortions and care for their families.
- Follow, donate, and volunteer with WHO/Ohio Abortion Fund, The Aggie Fund, Preterm, Queen’s Village, and Birthing Beautiful Communities.
- Get plugged in on self managed abortions from Faith Choice Ohio and donate to their abortion acccess Jubilee Fund.
- Follow Pro-Choice Ohio and Planned Parenthood Advocates of Ohio for legislative updates and future local and statewide actions that you can take.
Grace Lee Boggs said, “If we want to see change in our lives, we have to change things ourselves.” We are not powerless in this moment. Each one of us has power. That power is amplified when we stand together and care for one another. We will win because our commitment to one another is our greatest strength and has brought us through centuries of hardships and attacks in this country. We will win because we know our struggles are interconnected and we refuse to leave anyone behind. When we fight together, we win.