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A Very Important Update from NARAL Pro-Choice Washington

July 13, 2021 – With major developments underway, we wanted to make sure you heard the following from1 us:  On June 28, NARAL Pro-Choice America’s board of directors voted to fully nationalize the organization, ultimately eliminating all 11 […]

Moment of Gratitude for Self-Care Saturday

Watch our recording of Self-Care Saturday’s Moment of Gratitude where we take space to be thankful for ourselves, our work, and each other. Two of our vendors — Wade Brill from Centered in the City and Heather Ace from SemiWoo — lead us through inspiring guided meditations. You also hear from our Executive Director, Kia Guarino, Political and Organizing Director, Lillian Lanier, and Abortion Provider and Board Member Dr. Anuj Khattar.

June Medical Services v. Russo: FAQs

We are still waiting to hear what the Supreme Court will decide about the future of abortion access in June Medical Services LLC v. Russo. This is the first abortion case since Kavanaugh was confirmed to the court.

So much is at stake right now and we want to make sure everyone knows exactly how this case can impact abortion access across the nation. 

Below are the top questions that we are asked about this case that is before the Supreme Court.

 

What is June Medical Services v. Russo?

It is a case before the Supreme Court that challenges a dangerous clinic shutdown law (also known as a TRAP law) in Louisiana that would require doctors to medically unnecessary admitting privileges at a nearby hospital. 

 

What is a TRAP/clinic shutdown law?

A TRAP law/clinic shutdown law is a law that is medically unnecessary. The anti-choice movement advocates for these laws to restrict abortion providers and clinics from providing care by forcing clinics to comply with these unnecessary and burdensome regulations or shut down. An admitting privileges law is a type of TRAP law. It has been proven that it provides no medical benefit to the patient. Requiring admitting privileges does not make patients safer but, rather reduces access to abortion by preventing providers and clinics from offering care.

 

Did the Supreme Court hear a case just like this in 2016?

Yes, they did! The Louisiana admitting privileges law is identical to the unconstitutional Texas law that the Court struck down in Whole Woman’s Health v. Hellerstedt. The Supreme Court ruled that admitting privileges laws serve no other purpose than to make accessing abortion more difficult. However, the difference between then and now is that we have Kavanaugh tipping the Court to a conservative majority.

 

What will happen if the Supreme Court approves of this Louisiana law?

We want you to know that no matter what happens, NARAL Pro-Choice Washington will never stop fighting to ensure reproductive freedom is for every body in Washington state. If the Supreme Court upholds this Louisiana law, it would devastate abortion access in the state of Louisiana and nationwide when anti-choice politicians pass copycat restrictions across the country. 

 

What can we do in Washington do?

Make sure to continue to elect reproductive freedom champions in the Washington State legislature come November. While abortion access is under attack at the national level, we need to do all we can to hold the line in our state. 

 

Is there anything else we can do?

When a case like this is at the Supreme Court, it’s always helpful to let people know that we’re in a critical moment for reproductive freedom and that they can get involved by talking to their friends and family and doing things like posting on social media.

And if you haven’t already donated to support NARAL in the fight to ensure reproductive freedom is for every body, everywhere, you can pitch in here!

In solidarity with Black Lives, Defund the police

NARAL stands with Black Lives Matter Seattle-King County’s statewide policy demands, especially the top priority to defund the police. These policy demands are critical steps towards ending systems of white supremacy and creating equity across communities.

Budgets reflect our priorities. 

The call to defund the police is a call for investment in the urgent needs that disproportionately impact Black communities including healthcare access, education, social services, and more. Through investment, we can work to make sure every person, every parent, and every family is able to thrive.

The list of demands put forward is a response to hundreds of years of systemic oppression and the failure of reforms to address urgent needs and injustices. The call to defund the police comes after multiple attempts to change the culture of policing, which has failed Black communities and Black people.

There can be no reproductive freedom without freedom from state violence and oppression. 

Each and every person should have the freedom to chart their own reproductive destinies — to decide if, when, and how to start, grow, and raise a family and to be able to raise their families in safe, healthy environments, free from state violence and systemic oppression.

Racism is a public health crisis that preserves a culture of white supremacy and is central to reproductive oppression

Black women are four times more likely to die from childbirth than white women (Source) and abortion rates in the Black community are 5 higher than in white communities (Source), we know that systemic racism is prevalent in our health care systems and that the Black community is disproportionately impacted by barriers to abortion care.

  • NARAL is a historically white-led organization. As we follow the lead of Black leaders on dismantling racism in the world, we know we need to do more to dismantle the systems of racism in our own organization. 
    • We are listening, learning, and reflecting on the experience of allies, members, current and former staff, and board members to make good on our commitment to anti-racism. 
    • We know this requires daily discipline to live our values through our internal culture, our external campaign priorities, and our alliances within the progressive movement.

Start Here & Stay Informed: BLM

Start Here:

Racial Equity 101:

Podcasts:

Films and TV series:

Microagressions:

More Lists of Resources:

 

 

Washington Movement Leaders: 

National Movement Leaders:

Black Lives Matter Solidarity

Fighting for reproductive freedom is intrinsically connected to fighting for racial justice. 

The right to raise children, or not raise children, without the fear of violence against them or yourself is a fundamental freedom. We actively witness and work against reproductive oppression when we tackle disparities in abortion care, birth control access, birthing care, and sexual health education. The same systems which keep access to abortion limited to a few perpetuate violence against Black, Brown, and Native communities and families.

Black Lives Matter. George Floyd should still be alive. Breonna Taylor should still be alive. Ahmaud Arbery should still be alive. Tony McDade should still be alive.

Every body deserves the freedom to live free from violence, free from discrimination, and free from fear. Many of us who are not Black will never know what that feels like, but we don’t need to intimately experience pain and trauma to know it is evil and wrong and to fight against it. Right now, we must follow the lead of Black voices and center solutions from Black leaders and organizations.

Today, NARAL Pro-Choice Washington is standing in solidarity with a movement that protests the systemic racism of police brutality. Until our Black neighbors are free from state-sanctioned violence, discrimination, and fear, there is no freedom for any of us.

We all must do our part to dismantle systemic racism. One action we are taking today is supporting our partners leading reproductive justice. Today I am asking you to join us in contributing to our partner, SURGE Reproductive Justice, a black-led organization making change in our state. SURGE envisions a world where all communities are free from reproductive oppression, racism, and violence. Match our gift by giving at www.surgereprojustice.org.

Barriers to reproductive health care disproportionately impact communities of color and especially Black communities. For centuries, Black women & families have faced reproductive oppression:

This work is the work of a lifetime. We must work every day to unlearn and fight against systems of structural racism. NARAL Pro-Choice Washington will continue to follow the lead of Black leaders, communities, and organizations to do our part. It starts with our commitment to dismantling the culture of white supremacy and championing anti-racist policies, so we can affirm the dignity of every human being.

In gratitude,

Team NARAL