In response to the Supreme Court overturning the constitutional right to abortion in June 2022 and many states banning and restricting abortion access, abortion advocates have created volunteer-run, donor-supported, community-based mutual aid groups around the country to provide free abortion pills to people living in states restricting abortion.
These community providers obtain medication from overseas suppliers, bring them into the country and mail them from within the United States so that people receive them promptly. Many of these groups—including AccessMA, FL Companion Request, Access Pills, Oklahoma Access and Territory Access, among others—serve people of all ages and gestational stages, using different protocols for people in later pregnancy.
“It’s important for restricted communities to know they can get free medication with no hurdles through any gestation with assigned companion support and clinicians if requested,” a volunteer with one of the community groups told Ms.
Information about many of these groups are listed on the website of Red State Access. To support people using abortion medications, these community providers share detailed information about how to use the pills in English, Spanish and Vietnamese. They offer supportive companions virtually by phone, text or email, and they ensure that people are within thirty minutes of emergency care in the rare event that they need it. To ensure privacy, they use encrypted apps and aliases. They also offer information about free ultrasounds and supportive and safe aftercare treatment centers.
Starting in August 2022, community providers referred by Red State Access mailed abortion pills to over 20,000 people in their first year. As they start their third year of operations, they have mailed abortion medications to over 70,000 people in total. This number does not include several other community providers, such as Las Libres.
Community providers referred by Red State Access now serve 23 restricted states and four territories, including Florida, Arkansas, Alabama, Louisiana, Oklahoma, Utah, Wisconsin and more.
Community providers referred by Red State Access adhere to the following protocols:
- They respond to clients within 24 hours, seven days a week.
- Medication is shipped by USPS priority mail or ground transport in discreet packaging with no tracking.
- Kits contain one 200 mg Mifepristone and 12-16 200 mcg Misoprostol for pregnancies 20 weeks and under, as recommended by Miscarriage and Abortion Hotline.
- Clients over ten weeks of pregnancy are referred to trained, trusted companions on dosing and directions.
- Clients may choose to receive loose, unidentifiable pills or foil, blister packs, depending on their security concerns.
- Clients have access to personal, trained companions, who are automatically assigned for minors, domestic violence survivors and clients over ten weeks of pregnancy.
- People of all gestations are served.
- No personal data is retained or collected.
- Clinicians are available on request.
Advocates in these groups are taking legal risks by doing this work but nevertheless persist because they know that many people cannot travel out of state to obtain abortion care. They strongly believe that no one should be forced to give birth against their will. Sometimes their shipments of pills from abroad have been confiscated, but most of the time, they reach their destinations. They recently moved their headquarters from New York to offshore for greater security.
Community providers do not advertise, but instead share their work by word of mouth and through organizations like Red State Access and Plan C. They faced opposition from allies in the early months but are now listed as a safe and verified resource on a number of abortion educational sites, including INeedAnA, Mayday Health, Midwest Access Coalition, Abortion On Our Own Terms, Men for Equity and Reproductive Justice and RHEDI.
Community providers referred by Red State Access have struggled to raise enough funds to meet the enormous need. They initially received contributions from small and large donors, resulting in full funding during their first year of operation. But as they ramped up their work and became higher profile, large donors withdrew their support, leaving them with only one quarter of their budget funded in year two. This year, half of their $500,000 budget is funded, but they are out of funding for several states.
Advocates have created a GoFundMe page to support US-based community groups sharing free abortion pills. Many of these groups can now receive donations from Donor Advised Funds as they have obtained a fiscal sponsor and can provide charitable tax deduction receipts.
“Bodily autonomy is a human right,” a volunteer with AccessMA told Ms. “It is vital that everyone knows what their options are and can make their own decisions. Medication abortion is safe, widely available and free from community support networks so pregnant people can choose what is best for themselves and their families—regardless of their zip code.”
For information on donating through a Donor Advised Fund, contact AccessPills@proton.me.
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