From Planned Parenthood Advocates of Virginia:
Abortion Access Advocates Stand in Solidarity After Texas SB 8 Bans Abortion After 6 Weeks
Virginia—Abortion access advocates from Planned Parenthood Advocates of Virginia, Progress Virginia, Latina Institute for Reproductive Justice-Virginia, Whole Woman’s Health Alliance, NARAL Pro-Choice Virginia and many others joined together to participate in a national day of action to show support for abortion access. This event comes after the Supreme Court of the United States failed to act to stop Texas’ S.B. 8, a draconian six-week abortion ban, from taking effect. By failing to take action, the Supreme Court has decimated abortion access in Texas, signaled to other states across the country that they can do the same, and effectively struck down the protections for abortion access enshrined in Roe v. Wade.
“Texas’ S.B. 8 makes it so your abortion is everyone’s business but your own,” Jamie Lockhart, Executive Director of Planned Parenthood Advocates of Virginia, said. “Abortion is still legal in Virginia, and we will do what we can to help get patients the care they need, no matter what.”
“I felt strong and confident in my decision to have an abortion because I had access to resources and support,” Shaina Lynch, a Chesterfield mom of two said. “But not everyone has that. Without my abortion doula and the programs we have here in Virginia, I would have drowned. I was stuck in a very bad home situation, and I’m so grateful that I was able to access abortion. Everyone should have those same rights, and it is tragic that it is being limited in Texas.”
“Virginia seems safe now with leaders that support abortion access, but not too long ago, getting an abortion in Virginia was extremely difficult. People who needed abortion services often had to travel hundreds of miles to get to a clinic that would see them. They would have to take time off work, find childcare for their children and stay overnight in a hotel because not only were ultrasounds a requirement, but then they had to wait 24 hours just because politicians wanted to make accessing abortion a little bit harder,” LaTwyla Mathias, Executive Director of Progress Virginia, said. “We can’t and we won’t go back to the days where accessing abortion in Virginia was nearly impossible, so we’re here today to stand in solidarity with our friends in Texas and say that we won’t let it happen there, here, or anywhere else.”
“Today, S.B. 8 is in Texas, but we know that it will spread. Here in Virginia, we have done so much work to expand access, but there is still work to do,” Jesse Torrey, Managing Director of Whole Woman’s Health Alliance, said. “We have to work together to ensure reproductive healthcare, including abortion, is accessible to all who need it.”
“S.B. 8 will no doubt have a devastating impact in TX and will overwhelmingly harm Black and Brown people as well as those struggling to make ends meet,” Michaela Parris, Communications Director at NARAL Pro-Choice Virginia, said. “As other states pass legislation similar to S.B. 8, which they will, we must continue to expand access here in Virginia. Everyone regardless of where they live deserves access to reproductive health care.”
“It is incredibly unjust that this law has gone into effect. Radical politicians in Texas are trying to strip Texans of their reproductive agency and fundamental human rights,” Margie Del Castillo, National Director of Field and Advocacy with the Latina Institute for Reproductive Justice-Virginia, said. “Because of S.B. 8, our undocumented communities will lose what little access they had to abortion care. We also know that the courts won’t save us. It is up to us to mobilize our communities and fight for access to reproductive healthcare, including abortion care.That is why we must pass the Reproductive Health Equity Act here in Virginia so that everyone, regardless of immigration status or gender identity, has access to the full spectrum of reproductive healthcare services, including abortion.”
To view the event live stream, click here.
Background:
- Texas’ S.B. 8 not only bans abortion after 6 weeks, before many people know they are pregnant, but also allows people to sue anyone who helps a person access abortion services.
- 8 in 10 Americans believe abortion should be legal.
- 18 states have enacted 90 different restrictions on abortion access in 2021 alone.
- Shining The Light: Accessing Abortion in Virginia is a documentary featuring 4 Virginians and their experiences accessing abortion. It can be seen here.
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