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If You're Enraged By Extreme Abortion Legislation, Here's How To Fight It
By now, your news notifications may look like a timeline of abortion ban updates from different states. Indeed, as many as eight states have passed legislation restricting access to abortion care just this year, and several more have introduced measures to ban the medical procedure as early as six weeks into pregnancy. Called the “heartbeat bill,” this kind of legislation has already been passed in many states and Alabama has passed the nation's most restrictive abortion ban. With such extreme legislation sweeping the nation, you might be wondering how to protest these abortion bans.
Alabama’s recent passage of the nation's most restrictive abortion law has sparked outrage among feminists, civil rights activists, and much of the public for its near-total ban that will also be applied to impregnated victims of rape or incest, according to The New York Times. In response, hundreds of demonstrators already marched the streets to the Alabama Capitol this Sunday, according to NBC News. Not only that, but many organizations have also already begun pursuing legal challenges to the restrictive legislation that many say threaten the historic Supreme Court precedent set by Roe v. Wade.
Like many others, if these bans enrage you, but don’t know how to go about protesting, worry not. There are many additional ways you can protest the bans, from marching the streets yourself to contributing to the cause from your desktop.
Join A Sister Protest In Your State
NARAL Pro-Choice America along with additional national advocacy organizations including ACLU, Planned Parenthood Action Fund, and the Women’s March, are organizing a National Day of Action to Stop the Bans.
Held this Tuesday, May 21, the action will also see to additional events held across the 50 states and throughout the week. The coalition of national organizations is working to mobilize its chapters, members, and activists across the nation to host actions in every one of the 50 states. So far, 250 events have already been planned.
To find and register for an even near you, simply visit this website and type in your zip-code.
Donate To Local Organizations In States Affected By The Bans
While donating to national organizations such as the ACLU, NARAL, and Planned Parenthood can definitely go a long way in helping the resistance movement, it is equally as important to donate to more local, grassroots organizations that have a direct impact on local communities.
In response to the bans in many states, find smaller reproductive rights organizations that work to provide support and resources to women seeking abortions.
These organizations include the Yellowhammer Fund, Access Reproductive Care (ARC)-Southeast, National Network of Abortion Funds, Gateway Women’s Access Fund, and Women Have Options.
Speak Up
If you feel passionately about the subject, first do your research and then vocally condemn the recent attacks on abortion rights. You can spread the word by sharing information on social media (find shareable posts on NARAL, Planned Parenthood and ACLU’s social media accounts, as well as any local chapters of those organizations), by engaging in thoughtful discussions with friends or family members, and by writing op-eds for your local papers.
As the nation gears up for what could be a legal showdown at the Supreme Court, these are just a few of the many ways you can get involved and to help protect reproductive rights and decades of progress.
