Two Years After Dobbs: The State of Repro Justice
Today marks the second anniversary of the Supreme Court's Dobbs decision overturning Roe v. Wade which protected access to safe and legal abortion for 50 years. The decision set off a cascade of state legislation prohibiting women's access to a full range of reproductive health care. In Florida, the state legislature moved quickly to enact a ban on abortions after 15 weeks of pregnancy, and then in the next session effectively prohibited access by making terminations after 6 weeks illegal. Florida is one of nearly two dozen states that have banned or severely restricted abortion access. Forty-one states in all have limited access with few exceptions.
The Dobbs decision has resulted in a cascade of consequences - both intended and unintended - impacting maternal mortality and morbidity, access to IVF, birth control, and the training of doctors and other health care providers. Most important, abortion bans have disproportionately impacted women of color, and economically disadvantaged families.
Government interference with health care decisions - including abortion - is opposed by most Americans, even in states like Florida that have enacted bans. More than 1 million voters signed petitions to put a constitutional amendment protecting abortion access in Florida on the ballot in 2024. Despite a disinformation campaign by the Governor and radical right on the ballot initiative, recent polls show 69% of voters support Amendment 4 limiting government interference with abortion. The ballot measure must be approved by 60% of voters to pass.
Abortion is on the ballot in 2024. Here are some ways you can take action this week to support reproductive justice and fight back against efforts to curb abortion access:
Yes on 4! is hosting weekly canvasses, virtual phone banks, and other events throughout the state to GOTV for Amendment 4. Check out volunteer opportunities here.
In Washington, Democrats are preparing to introduce legislation repealing the Comstock Act, a 19th-century law cited in the Project 2025 playbook as a vehicle for enacting a nationwide abortion ban. Email Senators Rick Scott and Marco Rubio, and Congressman John Rutherford and let them know you are a pro-choice voter and support the repeal and expect them to vote to protect reproductive freedom. They need to hear from you.
Also stalled in Congress is The Women's Health Protection Act (WHPA) which provides federal protections for abortion access. Sign a petition urging Congress to take action here.
Support candidates committed to reproductive justice! You can find endorsements of candidates running for U.S. House and Senate seats by the Planned Parenthood Action Fund here. For state and local races, check out Jax NOW PAC endorsements.
More Ways to Get Involved This Week!
Voter Outreach for School Board Races: Public School Defenders Duval County and Families for Strong Public Schools need our help with voter outreach in two key school board races with Moms for Liberty candidates (Districts 3 & 7). While the Beaches don't have a school board race in the 2024 election, the entire board votes on issues that affect us. The groups are organizing nonpartisan canvassing to remind voters, particularly NPAs, about the August School Board election. Since August is usually focused on party primary contests in which only registered Democrats and Republicans can participate, NPA voters need to know the school board vote is open to everyone and urged to support candidates committed to public education. Sign up here.
Over the Fence: Sign-up for Neighbor 2 Neighbor and talk to 10 like-minded people who live near you! Contact Nancy Staats if you have questions. N2N, a proven tactic for increasing voter turnout, launched in June!
Watch the Debate! Join BAM members and friends for fun - including a game of Presidential Debate Bingo. RSVP below.
Nearly 30 people representing 15 organizations participated in the follow-up meeting of the Joyful Resistance: Together We Win! GOTV Summit last week and shared their collaborative efforts to increase voter turnout among Black & Hispanic voters, young voters, and voters who signed petitions on abortion and marijuana ballot measures. The May 8th summit, hosted by BAM, Indivisible Mandarin, and Indivisible Jax Riverside, in partnership with the Northside Coalition of Jax, Florida for All, and Floridians for Democracy, will be featured on the Statewide Indivisible Florida Task Force (SWIFT) call tomorrow, Tuesday, June 25 at 5:30 p.m. RSVP here to join the Zoom call and find out more about this exciting coalition-building initiative!
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