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Within the 12 months because the Supreme Court docket struck down Roe v. Wade, emboldened anti-abortion extremists in statehouses and courtrooms have labored tirelessly to limit entry. Thankfully, reproductive justice advocates usually are not sitting idly by. In states the place abortion stays authorized and fiercely protected, we’re going additional by doubling down on our efforts to broaden abortion entry and make it extra equitable wherever we are able to.
Right here in Rhode Island, we received it achieved. Our little state has not solely codified the precise to an abortion, we additionally not too long ago handed a legislation permitting Medicaid recipients and state workers to make use of their insurance coverage to get abortions. The Equality in Abortion Protection Act (EACA) expands protection to about 32,000 Rhode Islanders, together with well being professionals, faculty professors, college students, and their households—to not point out the 25 p.c of residents lined by Medicaid, about 77,000 of whom are folks of childbearing age. Earlier than our state legislature handed the EACA, none of those folks had medical health insurance that supplied abortion protection. We introduced down a important barrier for low-income Rhode Islanders and made positive folks can afford their abortions.
Whereas we stands out as the smallest state within the nation, we’ve scored a number of the greatest wins on this combat—and our work can function a roadmap for different states. Now greater than ever, it’s important to proceed increasing equitable entry for all and guarantee abortion is secure, authorized, and out there to all who need it.
We have been in a position to reinforce that abortion is a Rhode Island worth, and thru our collective energy, elected and supported lawmakers who’re dedicated to enshrining abortion protections into legislation.
Successful this newest combat to broaden entry was not straightforward. Even in a state the place abortion was absolutely protected in 2019, we needed to manage, activate, and educate our neighborhood in regards to the stakes of this invoice. Regardless of our popularity as a liberal New England stronghold, sure communities in our state are typically at odds with the objectives of our motion. Navigating these considerations was important in securing the assist to make these legal guidelines potential.
It took a full-court press from abortion supporters operating cellphone banks, neighborhood occasions, foyer days, briefings, and ARTivist actions. We supplied projections and helped manage hearings on the difficulty to coach our neighbors and neighborhood members. We partnered with like-minded organizations just like the Rhode Island American School of Physicians, Girls and Infants Hospital, and Rhode Island Medical Society to jot down letters to our leaders urging them to assist increasing abortion protection.
We weren’t sure our leaders would observe by means of, and in the end we imagine this concerted effort to carry an open dialogue was important in reaching this win. We have been in a position to reinforce that abortion is a Rhode Island worth, and thru our collective energy, elected and supported lawmakers who’re dedicated to enshrining abortion protections into legislation.
Whereas we applaud the lawmakers who made this potential, we all know there are nonetheless loads of anti-abortion politicians in Rhode Island—and throughout the nation—who wish to block people from accessing the reproductive care they deserve. These assaults disproportionately affect Black communities, younger folks, low-income households and people, and people dwelling in rural areas.
On a statewide stage, we would like our lawmakers to go deeper of their dedication to growing well being fairness, particularly reproductive well being, for the Rhode Island neighborhood. There’s nonetheless work to be achieved to guard bodily autonomy for Rhode Islanders, significantly trans and nonbinary Rhode Islanders and folks of coloration.
We additionally should ensure that individuals who need an abortion wouldn’t have to navigate onerous obstacles to entry. Nationally, our motion has extra to do as nicely. We can not disregard states within the South or Midwest as being hopeless within the combat towards anti-abortion politicians. We all know that coastal elitism has no place within the reproductive justice motion. This combat gained’t be over till we see daring, federal protections that make abortion entry out there and compassionate for each single individual within the nation.
Having high quality abortion care strengthens our communities. As anti-abortion extremists seize on the autumn of Roe to make abortion inaccessible, we should present everybody that there’s a higher approach. We will present them a neighborhood that loves and helps all its residents, that gives compassionate care, and provides them the liberty to make their very own decisions about their reproductive well being with out judgment. We will present them the facility of neighborhood organizing and activists in making essential modifications—and provides power to our allies on this combat by exhibiting them a approach ahead. We will impress our motion to maintain combating and safe victories wherever they’re potential.
We imagine Rhode Island is that instance.
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