More Than A Magazine, A Movement
The anti-abortion playbook that uses violence and threats as a crucial tool has been co-opted by other movements—including anti-trans extremists, who are employing many of the same tactics as anti-abortion extremists.
From targeting specific doctors, to bombarding clinics with phone calls and protests, these groups incite violence against clinicians who are providing care that is widely regarded as best practice by all major medical associations.
We are only 10 days into April, and it’s already been a head-spinning month for U.S. authoritarianism.
Two federal district court decisions were issued that could dramatically impact access to medication abortion nationwide—even in states where abortion is legal. Voters in the notoriously purple state of Wisconsin turned out in record-breaking numbers to elect progressive Judge Janet Protasiewicz. Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer signed three bills that repeal the state’s 92-year-old abortion ban. Tens of thousands of students across the country walked out of their classrooms to protest gun violence.
What did abortion look like, in the pre-Roe era? If you lived in Chicago, there was a number you could call—and a woman named Jane would answer.
“The women of Jane performed 11,000 abortions between 1965 and 1973,” Booth said. “And when people take action we can save lives, we can make a difference, we can change the laws and change the future. And we have to take action as these very precious freedoms are under threat right now.”
It’s been women’s progress—the right to vote, to own property, for reproductive rights and for civil rights for all people—that has led to an expansion of democracy globally in the 20th century. We must be prepared for what is nothing less than major battles for the survival and advancement of women’s rights—and our very democracy.
In a few short months, we face the likelihood the Supreme Court will overturn Roe. Already, 2021 was the worst year for abortion rights in half a century. In Texas, abortion has already been virtually outlawed for almost five months. And now the Supreme Court has issued yet another decision that will ensure S.B. 8 will remain the law in Texas for months to come.
The silver lining of this fraught era for reproductive rights seems to be that a large swath of Americans who oppose overturning Roe v. Wade will be motivated to vote in the midterm elections this fall. Polls show that abortion is increasingly becoming a decisive factor for voters—particularly young women voters.
We have a lot to think about on the one-year remembrance of January 6th—a day that showed us we cannot let our guard down, even for one instant.
A disaster.
That was my first reaction when I heard the news early Friday morning about the Supreme Court’s ruling on two emergency appeals to block enforcement of the Texas law S.B. 8 banning most abortions after six weeks of pregnancy.
It’s been an extraordinary week of legislative victories for women’s equality—but also one of profound tragedy.
This week, the U.S. House of Representatives advanced two critical measures, the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) and Equal Rights Amendment (ERA). The votes came the day after a murderous rampage in Atlanta that left eight people dead, six of them Asian American women.
On Thursday, President Joe Biden delivered two things. He signed into law the $1.9 trillion American Rescue Plan, just one day after the House voted to pass the groundbreaking relief package.
But just as importantly, President Biden delivered hope as he called on the country to come together to fight the pandemic.
Women are guaranteed full legal rights in only 10 countries. Sadly, the United States is not among them. But we have a chance to change that—this year.
[This weekly letter from the editor recaps critical developments in U.S. and global feminism—alongside the latest Ms. must-reads—right as they unfold]
