Milwaukee, WI – Community members gathered for a screening of Preconceived on April 12 to learn about the dangers of crisis pregnancy centers.

Reproductive Justice Action Milwaukee (RJAM) hosted a screening of the documentary followed by a discussion as a part of their Crisis Pregnancy Centers Out of MKE campaign.

Crisis pregnancy centers are also known as unregulated pregnancy centers or fake abortion clinics. Crisis pregnancy centers are clinics in buildings or mobile vans which claim to be reproductive health clinics but are actually run by anti-abortion activists who trick pregnant people seeking abortions into keeping their pregnancy, using deceitful means. Currently there are 50-plus crisis pregnancy centers in Wisconsin and only five legitimate clinics offering abortion care.

With promises of financial and community support for keeping the baby, the CPCs are able to draw in pregnant women before promptly abandoning the new parent and baby once the child is born.

These “clinics” are strategically placed next to Planned Parenthood locations, in predominantly Black, Chicano and low-income communities. One of the anti-abortion activists interviewed in the documentary brags about specifically targeting Vietnamese and indigenous communities.

In addition to strategic placement, CPCs use religious imagery, language, and shame to convince people to either avoid or “reverse” an abortion. CPCs will give progesterone to “reverse” an abortion pill regime. When this procedure was being researched the entire program was halted due to the danger to participants. Real doctors and medical professionals would not recommend this course of action to a patient.

The showing of Preconceived is just one part of RJAM’s CPCs Out of MKE campaign. Using direct action, RJAM works to bring attention to and educate community members on crisis pregnancy centers and the harm they cause to reproductive health.

RJAM shut down Alliance Family Services early on their opening day in 2025. RJAM is currently supporting the Stopping Abuse, Fraud, and Exploitation by Governing Unauthorized Access to Reproductive Data (SAFEGUARD) Act in the Wisconsin state legislature. This act will give patients power to take back control of their private health information from these deceitful CPCs.

Additionally, it will force CPCs to disclose that they are not HIPAA-compliant, to obtain written permission to share data, and to disclose instances of data breach. Visit cpcsoutofmke.com to learn more about how to support reproductive justice work in Wisconsin.

#MilwaukeeWI #WI #WomensMovement #ReproductiveRights #Abortion #RJAM

St. Paul, MN – On January 22, the anniversary of the Roe v. Wade ruling, the Minnesota Abortion Action Committee (MNAAC) held a rally for reproductive justice near the Minnesota State Capitol. Pro-abortion, pro-bodily autonomy activists and community members gathered to renew their commitment to fighting for true reproductive justice beyond Roe.

The overturning of Roe v. Wade represents a loss to the reproductive justice movement. MNAAC activists explained that Roe itself was never enough. Although some abortions were made legal by the passage of Roe, it still allowed for gestational age restrictions, waiting periods, disinformation counseling sessions, and other restrictions.

MNAAC member Kristen Bledsoe described that the high cost of healthcare in America itself presents a barrier. “[Roe] still allowed for people to pay exorbitant amounts for this essential health care,” Kristen Bledsoe explained, “[Roe] still allowed for employers to choose whether they wanted insurance plans to cover abortion care, and to choose whether they’d allow sick leave to cover their employees’ appointments and recovery times. Even before the Dobbs decision, there were endless roadblocks for so many people who were trying to access abortion.”

Other groups organizing to enhance abortion access were in attendance. Omi Ifemi, a director at Our Justice, the country’s oldest abortion fund, explained that “Roe was the floor and not the ceiling.” Our Justice provides direct financial and logistical support for people seeking abortion care.

Alissa Washington of the Wrongfully Incarcerated and Over-Sentenced Families Council of Minnesota stated, “This is where we move from listening to action. Fight for people locked away in cages, targeted by ICE, or arrested for protesting. Freedom that excludes the most vulnerable is not freedom at all.”

Hayley Peterson, a board member at Pro-Choice Minnesota said, “Bodily autonomy of course includes access to abortion, but it also includes the ability to go to shops, work, places of worship, and anywhere else without fear of abduction.” Other speakers detailed the reproductive health effects of chemical weapons used by police and ICE to control crowds and the ways that ICE routinely denies access to menstrual health products for detained people.

Zara Anderson, a member of MNAAC, declared that “when we say reproductive justice, we mean the right and ability to have a child, to not have a child, and to parent our children in safe and healthy communities. That’s why we’re fighting to defend and expand women’s and reproductive rights, including full abortion access for all, and that’s why we’re here to demand ICE out of Minnesota.”

Manny Pascual, an organizer with the Minnesota Immigrant Rights Action Committee (MIRAC) and a nurse by trade, demanded an end to immigration raids and deportations, an end to all anti-immigrant laws, and full equality in all areas of life.

Manny Pascual stated, “Reproductive justice and immigrant justice are connected. You can’t have bodily autonomy if people cannot walk into a hospital without fear. You cannot talk about choice if people are hunted for who they are or where they come from. A world where women and queer people are free must be a world where all bodies and people are respected.”

MNAAC is a grassroots, all-volunteer reproductive justice organization that fights for reproductive and trans rights including abortion access, bodily autonomy, and gender-affirming care. Originally formed as a coalition of groups after the Dobbs decision overturned Roe v. Wade in 2022, MNAAC maintains that any attempts to limit, ban, or prevent access to abortions are fundamentally attacks on bodily autonomy.

MNAAC organizes to disrupt groups like Minnesota Citizens Concerned for Life, which claims to be “Minnesota’s largest pro-life organization.” Historically, Minnesota Citizens Concerned for Life has taken January 22nd as a “day of mourning” due to the passage of Roe v. Wade. MNAAC reclaimed this day as a day of action and renewed commitment to fight for reproductive justice and bodily autonomy for all.

MNAAC continues to organize around abortion access, trans liberation and bodily autonomy for all, including incarcerated people and immigrants. Their next action is planned for March 8, International Women’s Day, where they will take to the streets to demand women’s and reproductive rights. You can follow MNAAC’s work on Instagram and Facebook.

Dan Michael Fielding is a member of the Minnesota Abortion Action Committee (MNAAC).

#StPaulMN #MN #WomensMovement #ReproductiveRights #Abortion #MNAAC #RoeVWade

Minneapolis, MN – On Monday, October 13, the Minnesota Abortion Action Committee (MNAAC) and University of Minnesota Students for a Democratic Society (UMN SDS) organized an “Abortion is Freedom” protest against an anti-abortion event on campus.

Kristan Hawkins, founder and president of the so-called “pro-life” organization Students for Life, visited the University of Minnesota (UMN) as a part of her Abortion is Oppression Campus Tour.

MNAAC is a grassroots,s reproductive justice organization that fights for abortion access and bodily autonomy. Also committed to reproductive justice, students of UMN SDS previously led a campaign requesting an on-campus abortion clinic and routinely join protests against crisis pregnancy centers (CPCs). Both groups shared concern over the objectives of Hawkins’ visit, which were to dissuade young people from having abortions and to mobilize students, such as those involved with UMN’s Students for Life chapter, by spouting misinformation.

Protest speakers brought attention to Hawkins’ false claims about abortions – including that they are extremely dangerous for pregnant people, cause infertility, and contaminate drinking water. Hawkins has also incorrectly stated that abortion restrictions have not led to maternal mortality. During her speech, Kara Cowell, a public health student who specializes in reproductive healthcare, cited that maternal morbidity and mortality is in fact higher in states with abortion restrictions. Cowell referenced reputable sources on health outcomes including the American College of Obstetricians & Gynecologists and World Health Organization.

#MinneapolisMN #MN #WomensMovement #Abortion #MNAAC #ReproductiveRights #SDS #StudentMovement

Milwaukee, WI – On Sunday, September 28, over 80 people rallied at Dontre Hamilton Park in response to the recent attacks on abortion in Wisconsin. As of October 1, Planned Parenthood Wisconsin will be pausing abortion services at its three locations. This leaves only two independent clinics left in the entire state that offer abortion services, both located in Milwaukee.

Due to new stipulations in Trump and the Republicans’ reactionary Big, Beautiful Bill that was passed through Congress, funding is no longer available to Planned Parenthood Wisconsin. Organizations that receive Medicaid reimbursements and offer reproductive healthcare, including abortion, are no longer eligible for reimbursements if they continue to offer those services.

“We are here today to send a loud and unwavering message. Donald Trump and his regressive policies are not welcome in our city, in our state, or in our lives. We didn’t stay silent when our rights were stripped away with the fall of Roe in 2022, and we won’t stay silent now,” said Carly Klein of Freedom Road Socialist Organization. “We will fight back – against every attack on reproductive healthcare, against every assault on our communities, and against every system that seeks to oppress us.”

The rally aimed to let the public know abortion is legal in Wisconsin, and that there are still options for patients seeking services. Care for All and Affiliated Medical Services are both independent abortion clinics that remain open in Milwaukee. Since they don’t depend on Medicaid funding, they are exempt from the effects of the Big Beautiful Bill.

Another organization endorsing the rally was the Milwaukee Fights Back Coalition, formerly the Coalition to March on the RNC. A representative of the group, Andrea Waters, remarked, “The Trump administration effectively changed abortion access forever. This was another direct attack on bodily autonomy for women. Trump and the Republicans use this tactic to divide us as well, activating people who normally wouldn’t even have an opinion on abortion by making it ‘The Right v. The Radical Left.’”

Other organizations that spoke at the event were Students for a Democratic Society – United With Milwaukee (SDS UWM), Madison Abortion & Reproductive Rights Coalition for Healthcare (MARRCH), Pro-Choice Milwaukee, Care for All clinic, Milwaukee Alliance Against Racist and Political Repression, Men4Choice.

Despite the uphill battle, the organizers are determined to expand abortion access in Wisconsin. “Wisconsin isn’t turning back,” said Andrea Waters. “If you feel charged up from this event today, join the movement, talk to one of the speakers you saw today. We cannot stand silent while these attacks happen, we must expand abortion access in Wisconsin. Lend a hand and help us build a better future, a better tomorrow for the generations to come after us.”

#MilwaukeeWI #WI #WomensMovement #Abortion #ReproductiveRight #MilwaukeeFightsBackCoaltition #SDS #MARRCH #PCM #MAARPR #Feature

Milwaukee, WI – On the afternoon of July 21, activists gathered for a picket outside of a vacant building on the outskirts of West Allis.

“Milwaukee, open your eyes! Fake clinics spread lies!” protesters chanted, as they lined themselves up in front of the building where Alliance Women’s Services was set to have its grand opening.

Alliance Women’s Services is owned by Alliance Family Services, a dedicated anti-abortion organization that operates several crisis pregnancy centers around the Midwest. Crisis pregnancy centers are fake clinics funded by anti-abortion rights organizations, and in some cases, by state funding.

During the picket, Reproductive Justice Action – Milwaukee’s propaganda chair, Carly Klein, exposed Alliance Family Services, “Alliance Health, your names a lie, you don’t care if people die! Make no mistake, this is not a real healthcare provider. This is a fake clinic. They lure women in, with the promise of free ultrasounds and pregnancy tests. But once you’re inside, their true agenda becomes clear. They give misinformation, delay time sensitive care, and pressure people to continue their pregnancies!”

Reproductive Justice Action rallied outside the proposed clinic for about 45 minutes, the building remaining vacant. With no signage or indication that this building would be opening soon, they left a mark for the community by chalking messages on the sidewalk in front. Some messages included, “Fake clinic!” “Abortion is healthcare!” and “Do not enter!”

The activists expressed that they will remain steadfast in fighting against the opening of this new fake clinic and hope to get the community directly impacted involved in the fight as well. Alliance Women’s Clinic still has yet to open their doors.

#MilwaukeeWI #WI #WomensMovement #Abortion #ReproductiveRights #RJAM

Milwaukee, WI – Around 30 people gathered for a press conference and rally Wednesday, July 2 celebrating a landmark Wisconsin Supreme Court decision that effectively restored abortion access in the state. The court ruled 4-3 in favor that Wisconsin's 1849 law is not an abortion ban. This clarification removes the legal threat the ambiguous law posed to abortion providers since the fall of Roe v. Wade in 2022.

Due to this, abortion services were paused for 15 months in Wisconsin while the legality was decided by the courts. “This interpretation of an 1849 law confirms what we know is true, abortion is not a crime,” remarked Blake Jones, chair of Reproductive Justice Action Milwaukee (RJAM).

“But our fight is far from over,” she continued, “Right now, significant barriers to access still exist. State law enforces a 24-hour waiting period for abortions, paired with a mandatory ultrasound. Telehealth services for abortion care remain illegal, leaving rural Wisconsinites behind.”

While abortion remains legal in the state, enemy forces come into play when it comes to accessing healthcare for women.

Fight Back News previously covered RJAM’s battle against fake clinics, also known as crisis pregnancy centers (CPCs). “It’s Pro-Life Wisconsin and Wisconsin Right to Life who want to take abortion protections away. They are in our communities funding fake clinics, using deceptive tactics for influencing women to not seek an abortion,” said Reproductive Justice Action Milwaukee Propaganda Chair and Freedom Road Socialist member Carly Klein, the emcee of the event.

But Milwaukee will not give up the fight, said Jones, “So we’re calling on every politician and lawmaker: Include us in the fight for reproductive freedom. We the people demand our seat at the table. And to all Wisconsinites, stay activated. If today proves anything, when we fight, we win!”

#MilwaukeeWI #WI #WomensMovement #ReproductiveRights #Abortion #SCOTUS #CPCs #RJAM

Minneapolis, MN – On Saturday, May 10, Minnesota Abortion Action Committee (MNAAC) protested a fundraiser hosted by Abria Pregnancy Resources, a Twin Cities anti-abortion crisis pregnancy center. Pro-abortion activists and community members alike lined a stretch of Lake Harriet Parkway while anti-abortion participants were participating in Abria’s ninth annual “Life is Wonderful 10K, 5K, Walk & Fun Run.”

The well-attended protest amplified community members’ objections towards Abria’s presence and invited curious passersby to learn about the dangers of crisis pregnancy centers (CPCs).

MNAAC is a grassroots, reproductive justice organization that fights for reproductive rights, including abortion access, bodily autonomy and gender-affirming care. Much of their work consists of educating community members about the dangers of CPCs and organizing protests against them.

Crisis pregnancy centers are anti-abortion organizations that pose as health centers and purport to offer comprehensive reproductive healthcare, but instead use medical misinformation, religious shame tactics, and social pressure to dissuade people from accessing abortions.

Abria’s Minneapolis and Saint Paul locations are two of Minnesota’s 73 CPCs, a number far outweighing the state’s nine in-person abortion clinics. Despite that discrepancy, reproductive rights organizations celebrate the number of CPS dropping down from 90 in recent years.

Abria scheduled its fundraiser on Mother’s Day weekend – collecting registration fees and monetary donations for “life affirming medical care, maternal resources and compassionate support to women and couples facing unexpected pregnancies.” They listed rewards for various fundraising thresholds and cited that raising $1000 represented “the cost to provide women what she needs to choose life.”

Lake Harriet neighbor and Pro-Choice Minnesota member Jill Lock called out Abria’s misleading messages of supporting mothers. Esther Crotser (MNAAC) and fellow protester Michael Wood surprised and disrupted Abria’s participants by running alongside them with pro-abortion banners while chanting “Abortion is healthcare, abortion is essential!” Various community members along the lake paused to observe the disruption and various protest speakers.

One MNAAC member recalls, “Countless people stopped on the lake path and asked about our protest. Many seemed to initially think Abria’s run/walk was in honor of Mother’s Day or to broadly support reproductive healthcare, and wondered why we were protesting the event since our speakers, signs and chants seemed aligned. Once we explained that the fundraiser was hosted by the CPC Abria Pregnancy Resources – and for some, introduced them to the goals and tactics of these anti-abortion organizations – they voiced support for our programming and concern about Abria.”

Kristen Blesdoe, a member of MNAAC, stated, “Abria Pregnancy Resources will try to tell you that they do give people information about abortions – they even have a whole page about it on their website! However, if you visit that page, you’ll see that it talks about abortion only in stigmatizing terms as ‘serious’ and ‘invasive’, implies that it might not even work. It’s not until the bottom of the page that you finally see this sentence: Abria offers support at no cost to you regarding your decisions but does not refer for or perform abortions. Does this sound like a ‘safe, non-judgmental place’ to you?”

In addition to Abria Pregnancy Resources, MNAAC has organized protests of other Twin Cities CPCs including Birthright, First Care and Tandem. The grassroots organization supports organizations aligned with reproductive justice including Minnesota’s abortion fund (Our Justice) and Community Aid Network of Minnesota (CANMN).

Sarah Berlin is a member of the Minnesota Abortion Action Committee (MNAAC)

#MinneapolisMN #MN #WomensMovement #Abortion #ReproductiveRights #MNAAC

Milwaukee, WI – On May 10, dozens of people picketed outside the Women’s Care Center on Milwaukee’s South Side, demanding an end to the deceptive “care” it provides. This facility is one of nine crisis pregnancy centers located in Milwaukee. Crisis pregnancy centers (CPCs) are fake clinics that masquerade as facilities offering “all-option” pregnancy counseling, free ultrasounds, and pregnancy testing. However, they often lack trained medical staff and do not adhere to confidentiality regulations.

CJ Lund, a member of Reproductive Justice Action-Milwaukee (RJAM), stated, “We’re out here today to stand up and say that abortion care is healthcare and vital for all! We’re here to raise awareness about CPCs – aka fake clinics – like the Women’s Care Center, which are infiltrating our community, spreading misinformation, and creating barriers for those in need of actual healthcare.”

These organizations are operated by the anti-abortion movement to confuse and pressure pregnant individuals into continuing their pregnancies against their wishes.

“They are part of a larger societal goal: to force people into birthing the next generation of laborers and to maintain people’s socioeconomic placement in our system,” says Carly Klein from RJAM. She continued, “The anti-abortion movement, as a whole, wants to use forced birth as a means to control marginalized, oppressed and working-class people. CPCs are one way to mislead people and limit their access to care and life-saving services.”

Since abortion services resumed in Wisconsin in September 2023, Reproductive Justice Action Milwaukee has been fighting for more accessible abortion care and against barriers to healthcare.

Activists from the organization have successfully infiltrated three crisis pregnancy centers in the city. Lauren Forbush, an organizer with RJAM, visited the CPC where the picket was held, stating that they were pregnant and wanted to explore their options. Forbush explained, “While undercover, I experienced judgment, pressure to get an ultrasound, and received deceptive and misleading information about abortion.” They added, “During the experience, the employee I met with never introduced herself until the very end of the discussion and told me to use Google when I asked about abortion services.”

Reproductive Justice Action-Milwaukee plans to continue their campaign, CPCs Out of MKE, targeting fake clinics in the city. They will be picketing weekly throughout the month of May. Their goal is to expose and shut down these centers and redirect community members to honest and competent medical services.

#MilwaukeeWI #WI #WomensMovement #ReproductiveRights #RJAM #Abortion #Feature

Philadelphia PA – On April 18, an anti-abortion religious group called Mission Youth Philly planned to obstruct access to the Planned Parenthood at 12th and Locust Streets in Philadelphia’s gayborhood. In response, over 100 abortion rights activists and community members led by the Philly Abortion Rights Coalition gathered to prevent the anti-abortionists from intimidating patients accessing care and to show solidarity with the clinic-goers.

Mission Youth Philly is a Catholic organization that aims to involve mostly children and teenagers in public religious actions and other missionary work. They organize and lead a series of “missions” each year for the week leading up to Easter. The actions they performed on April 18 were for Good Friday. Their plan was to gather at the Planned Parenthood at 12th and Locust, to obstruct access to the clinic. Then, they would march to Rittenhouse Square to perform the stations of the cross and eventually regroup at the Philadelphia Women’s Center, a second clinic, to continue to harass patients accessing care.

Clinic defenders organized by the Philly Abortion Rights Coalition arrived with signs and banners highlighting the right to bodily autonomy for all, but especially women and LGBTQ people. Though a few people from Mission Youth Philly showed up at 8 a.m., the clinic defenders showed up earlier to prevent them from setting up directly in front of the clinic, forcing them across the street where they could not access clinic-goers.

Mission Youth Philly arrived with life-sized wooden crosses, flowers and various other symbolic props. Over 100 of them began gathering on the sidewalk opposite the clinic and its defenders but eventually crowded into the street to pray and sing as a group.In response, organizers from the Philly Abortion Rights Coalition formed a wall of bodies and led chants to drown them out such as, “Pro-life, that’s a lie. You don’t care if people die” and “Abortion is healthcare, healthcare is a human right.”

After several hours, Mission Youth Philly began the second phase of their “mission” and had their members march throughout Center City with large wooden crosses, a reference to the crucifixion of Jesus. Some anti-abortionists reconvened at the Philadelphia Women’s Center on Appletree Street, where more activists stood in defense of the clinic.

At the second clinic, an organizer from the Philly Abortion Rights Coalition initiated a speak-out and encouraged participants to share their personal experience with abortion and why the right to bodily autonomy was important to them. One participant shared that the lack of access to a medical abortion nearly cost her life and that those events have affected her fertility permanently. Another participant shared that even though they are trans-masculine, they have still needed to access abortion care.

The abortion rights activists successfully kept both clinics open and accessible for patients. Though the focus of the counter-protest was clinic defense, organizers, activists and passersby held broader conversations about bodily autonomy, child welfare, and access to healthcare, identifying the bigger enemy, not in fringe groups like Mission Youth Philly, but in the wealthy reactionaries in power who seek to strip away abortion rights for all.

#PhiladelphiaPA #PA #WomensMovement #Abortion #ReproductiveRights

New Orleans, LA – On April 9, a crowd of pro-choice activists rallied outside of the Louisiana Right to Life headquarters to protest the organization’s oppressive anti-abortion agenda.

Louisiana Right to Life (LARTL) actively works to introduce anti-abortion legislation at the state and federal levels. They profit off of misinforming the public, particularly minors, about abortion and villainizing people who are fighting for their bodily autonomy. LARTL claims Louisiana is the second most “pro-life” state in the country. On the contrary, the state ranks fourth highest in maternal mortality rates and fifth highest in infant mortality rates. 20% of Louisianans are also living below the federal poverty line.

“We all came out here today to call out the hypocrisy of places like this that claim to work on the basis of cherishing life. Let’s get one thing straight: you don’t cherish life, you’re not ‘pro-life,’ you’re pro-forced birth!” said Olivia Wagoner, an organizer with the Queer Trans Community Action Project.

The headquarters are located in a conservative suburb on the outskirts of the city. Many cars honked in support as they drove by in the rush-hour traffic.

The protest lasted over an hour, with chants such as “Right to Life is a lie, you don’t care if people die!” and “Not the church, not the state! People must decide their fate.” The crowd was amped up and showed their willingness to fight back against the state’s and Governor Jeff Landry’s attacks on reproductive rights.

As the crowd gained more attention, the people working in the office came out to antagonize the protesters. This did not work, as the chants only got louder and fiercer. Right before 5 p.m., the bigots retreated once their workday was over. The pro-choice activists remained. Molly Frayle, a member of the Queer Trans Community Action Project, called out their insincerity by stating “They were out here because they got paid to do so! We are out here because we care!”

The fight for reproductive justice is far from over, but the people will continue to push back. As the LARTL staff scurried away, protesters yelled “We will be back!”

#NewOrleansLA #LA #WomensMovement #Abortion #QTCAP #Feature

New Orleans, LA – On April 7, over 20 students and faculty members showed up to protest Amy Coney Barrett’s talk at Loyola Law School. Barrett is a Supreme Court Justice appointed by Donald Trump in 2020. She is one of the most conservative justices, who pushed forward the overturn of Roe v Wade in 2022.

Students chanted, “Not the church, not the state! Women must decide our fate!” and “Church and state – there’s no connection, don’t mess with my contraception!”

Zach Dowling, a Loyola Law student and member of the National Lawyers Guild, named some of Barrett’s actions since being on the Supreme Court, stating, “On transgender rights, she notably remarked that, ‘we don’t have a history of discrimination against trans people’ and has argued that Title 9 should not apply to transgender people. As an appellate judge her history is no better. She blocked an Indiana law that would make it harder for a minor to have an abortion without parental notification.”

Mae Guidry, a member of Students for a Democratic Society, stated, “We are here to show Justice Barrett that we do not approve of her actions up till now, and [make it clear] what we expect of her in the upcoming months, as Donald Trump’s violent, bigoted executive orders are eventually heard by the Supreme Court. We demand she respect the separation of church and state and not use her religion or personal belief in place of precedent!”

Protesters made their way to the front of the Loyola Law School, picketing for an hour with chants like, “Abortion is our right! Fight fight fight fight!” and “Right to life, what a lie! You don’t care if women die!”

As the demonstration came to an end, Guidry emphasized the importance of this action, stating, “Going forward, we hope Justice Barrett remembers the message we sent today. That she steps out of line and stands for the people of this country. We have to get organized so we can be loud. They will give us justice or they will not know peace!”

#NewOrleansLA #LA #StudentMovement #WomensMovement #Abortion #LGBTQ

St. Paul, MN - As Donald Trump was inaugurated the 47th president of the United States on Monday, January 20, people gathered in Saint Paul to make a promise that from day one they would resist Trump’s agenda. 

The day began at the Saint Paul Police Department’s Western District precinct. With temperatures dipping to negative five degrees, a single hearse led a caravan of over 100 cars in remembrance of Marcus Golden. At the young age of 24, Mr. Golden was murdered by Saint Paul Police on January 14, 2015. He is the nephew of Black Lives Matter Twin Cities organizer Monique Cullars-Doty. 

The caravan participants decorated their cars with Palestinian flags and signs in support of the defense of Black lives, immigrant rights, and reproductive rights. The caravan proceeded from The Saint Paul Police Department’s Western District precinct along University Avenue. Two young men exited their parked cars in subzero weather to wave a Palestinian flag in support as the caravan passed. The caravan participants honked as they continued east toward downtown.

Cullars-Doty spoke about the significance of the single hearse leading the caravan today. “The hearse is from the same undertaker who took my nephew Marcus Golden’s body from Ramsey County Coroner’s office, but it also represents all the revolutionaries this country has killed and silenced. It is also symbolic that we all follow the hearse because we are still fighting. So as this Trump administration rolls in, we cannot let our dreams die. It means we have to keep fighting.” 

A coalition of organizations led by Black Lives Matter Twin Cities (BLM-TC Metro), the Minnesota Immigrant Rights Action Committee (MIRAC), and Twin Cities Coalition for Justice (TCC4J) organized the car caravan and indoor rally.

In the shadow of the Minnesota State Capitol, the caravan arrived at Saint Paul College where 500 attendees filled the cafeteria to chants of “Black Lives, they matter here! and “Immigrants are welcome here!” 

Despite the somber occasion of Trump’s second inauguration, the room buzzed with enthusiasm as the emcees led the crowd in chants. Speaking for MIRAC was Manuel Pascual - a first generation Filipino immigrant who witnessed the violence of ICE raids against his community first hand. 

Pascual stated, “Immigrants and the working class are the backbone of this country. It is extremely important we don’t panic or fall into despair in this time of uncertainty. Instead, we organize. We take to the streets. We continue speaking up, showing up, and fighting for one another.” 

Charlie Berg, a member of the Freedom Road Socialist Organization, affirmed the task ahead of everyone in the room: “It is up to all of us to unite the many in order to defeat the few. We need to make this country ungovernable! Our job is to take the fight to higher stages than ever before.”

Toshira Garraway, the founder of Families Supporting Families Against Police Violence, whose fiancé was murdered by the Saint Paul Police in 2009, inspired the crowd saying, “When we see someone being hurt or harmed or mistreated for any reason at all it’s going to take every nationality of people from every walk of life to stand up against the evil and the corruption in this world and we are going to win!”

Sarah Murphy from the Minnesota Abortion Action Committee who spoke about the fight for abortion access under Trump and the fight against the predatory crisis pregnancy centers that are run by the Christian right and embed themselves in predominantly Black and brown working-class communities and college towns to dissuade people from getting abortions.

The crowd also heard speeches from the Climate Justice Committee, the TCC4J, the Minnesota Immigrant Movement, among many others. Other groups were present to table and talk to community members and other organizers throughout the day to share information and get more community members involved in joining the fight against Trump. 

Closing out the program was Anti-War Committee and Free Palestine Coalition member Sabry Wazwaz, who connected the fights for Black and Palestinian liberation, stating, “This connection is not something new. It has always been there. They don’t want us to remind each other that our struggle is one struggle! If you go to Palestine, you will see murals all along the apartheid walls of Martin Luther King, of Malcom X, of George Floyd - because our struggle is one struggle!”

After the program, participants returned to their cars to caravan to the Minnesota State Capitol building where they ended the day of protest honking outside of the Minnesota State Capitol to send the message that Minnesotans will be in the streets to fight Trump’s agenda starting on day one, even in extreme subzero weather.

#StPaulMN #MLKDay #MLK #Trump #Inauguration #Minnesota #AntiWarCommittee #FreePalestineCoalition #FreePalestine #Abortion #AbortionAccess #ReproductiveFreedom #ReproRights #BLM #BlackLivesMatter

St. Paul, MN – On the afternoon of Saturday, December 14, Twin Cities community members came together to protest outside the offices of Pro-Life Action Ministries, an anti-abortion Christian organization. The Minnesota Abortion Action Committee held a vigil to remember those who have passed away due to restrictions on abortion care, then transitioned into a rally to show that the community does not welcome Pro-Life Action Ministries and its hateful rhetoric.

The Minnesota Abortion Action Committee hosted the vigil to honor and remember victims of abortion bans by holding a banner bearing the names and ages of those that have passed and commemorating the many others who have gone unnamed. Among those honored were Amber Nicole Thurman, Candi Miller, Nevaeh Crain, Josseli Barnica and Porsha Ngumezi, all women who have died since the overturn of Roe v. Wade after being denied abortion care. Attendees placed flowers and candles around portraits of the deceased to offer a heartfelt tribute to those women.

After an emotional vigil, the action transitioned into a rally against Pro-Life Action Ministries, an organization known for organizing “sidewalk counselors” to harass people seeking care at Planned Parenthood locations. Pro-Life Action Ministries also supports and funds “crisis pregnancy centers.”

June Gromis of the Minnesota Abortion Action Committee talked about how pro-life organizations like Pro-Life Action Ministries are using the guise of religion to further their agendas and expressed that her own faith is rooted in love for all. Gromis sang the song Amazing Grace and the crowd joined in, honoring “everyone who has endured suffering as a result of anti-abortion legislation.”

In a similar vein, a member of Women Against Military Madness, spoke of her own story of ending pregnancies in the past and how “she is at peace with this.” She spoke about her mother, a devoted Christian, who taught her to be pro-choice, and affirmed that her dedication to the fight to “respect people’s choice!”

Michael Wood of the Climate Justice Committee connected the struggle to save the climate with the movement for abortion rights and emphasized the fact that pro-life organizations are not for the people. He spoke about his experience of growing up Catholic, but resisting the anti-abortion beliefs of the church. Wood said that instead, he now stands for reproductive justice for all, which includes “fighting for clean water and air for our children to breathe in!”

A member of the Anti-War Committee spoke about how the fight for reproductive freedoms is connected with the liberation of Palestine, touching on the fact that movements need to be connected. “We cannot be pro-choice here at home, while turning a blind eye to the horror the U.S. and Israel impose on Palestinians and their reproductive rights!” she said.

The emcees ended the rally with a reaffirmation of their commitment to the fight against anti-abortion laws and rhetoric, encouraging the community to keep up the struggle for bodily autonomy in memory of the dead and in honor of all of us still living.

#StPaulMN #MN #WomensMovement #ReproductiveRights #Abortion #MNAAC #WAMM #CJC

Minneapolis, MN – Around 50 people rallied for reproductive rights outside Senator Amy Klobuchar’s office on the brisk afternoon of Sunday, November 24. The Minnesota Abortion Action Committee (MNAAC) organized the protest, which came at a pivotal time given the re-election of Donald Trump, whose first-term Supreme Court appointees voted to overturn Roe v. Wade in 2022.

Since the election, organizers with MNAAC have emphasized the need to take action against a familiar administration, one which promises to further do away with abortion rights. Addressing the situation in Minnesota, MNAAC member Maggie Moynihan told the crowd, “Clinics that offer real help and healthcare are few and far between in Minnesota, but the people who need their services are many.”

Organizers chose Senator Amy Klobuchar’s office as the location for the rally to draw attention to the bipartisan failures of politicians to codify abortion and to end the genocide in Palestine. While Klobuchar has a commendable track record speaking in favor of reproductive rights, she has failed to meaningfully pursue her campaign promise of “reinstating Roe.” She has also failed to uphold human rights at large, voting to continue military aid to Israel as recently as November 20.

Other groups at the protest included the Minnesota Immigrant Rights Action Committee, Climate Justice Committee and Anti-War Committee, as well as many supporters in the movement for women’s and reproductive rights.

While the rally primarily focused on the right to safe access to abortion, speakers also drew connections to the fight for a free Palestine. Crista Ocampo of the Anti-War Committee phrased this solidarity well, stating “The politicians who are sending bombs and military aid to uphold apartheid occupation are the same politicians who are stripping our rights away here in the states.” Ocampo went on to say, “It doesn’t matter if it’s here in the U.S. or in Gaza or the West Bank, when our rights are under attack, we will use everything we have to fight back.”

#MinneapolisMN #MN #WomensMovement #ReproductiveRights #Abortion #Trump #MNAAC

Milwaukee, WI – Reproductive rights supporters took to the streets, Saturday, November 9. Roughly 300 people gathered to hear speeches and speak out against the outrageous abortion restrictions in Wisconsin and across the U.S. 

Rally emcee Carly Klein of the Reproductive Justice Action-Milwaukee stated, “Many of you are out here today because you are enraged, terrified and heartbroken by the results of the presidential election. Our hope is that you are able to mobilize these emotions into action and join us in the fight for abortion access and safe and sustainable communities.” 

The group marched to the steps of the federal courthouse to hear speeches and chants for reproductive freedom. They met with overwhelming support from the public, with people joining as they marched on and continued to grow in size. 

Even though an 1849 feticide bill interpretation is being heard by the Supreme Court as to whether or not it applies to abortion, Wisconsin law still bans abortion after viability (as determined by physician), requires mandatory in-person consultation, 24-hour mandatory waiting period, and bans telemedicine consultations for abortion care. This particularly impacts oppressed nationalities and people in rural areas where access to abortion is difficult. 

Blake Jones, chair of RJA-M addressed the crowd, stating, “Our bodily autonomy has always been on the table and used as a bargaining chip, for Democrats and Republicans. Here in Wisconsin, reproductive health is almost an afterthought. Yes, abortion services have resumed, but barriers are still at every corner.” She went on to describe how cost, availability and travel are all ways that can prevent someone from getting an abortion, stating, “Abortion is healthcare, it shouldn’t be this complicated to get medical care for yourself.”

Reproductive Justice Action Milwaukee was formed, with the help of the Milwaukee Alliance Against Racist and Political Repression, shortly after the overturning of Roe v. Wade in June of 2022. Since then, it has been a thriving grassroots organization, with wins such as getting a referendum sponsored by Milwaukee County Executives Martin, Clancy, and Martinez on the April 2023 ballot. The referendum, which read, “Should Wisconsin Statute 940.04, which bans abortion at any stage of pregnancy without exception for rape, incest, or health of the patient, be repealed to allow legal access to abortion care?” and it passed with 76.91% of the votes saying yes.

Since then, it’s been an uphill battle for abortion rights in Wisconsin; with abortion services being paused for a year after Roe v. Wade fell, and now only four clinics for the whole state. Klein went on to say, “The Trump administration and the reactionary Republican agenda is a threat to our bodily autonomy. However let us not forget that Roe fell under a Democratic presidency. Let us not forget that the Democrats had 50 years to codify abortion rights into law and failed us too.”

President Obama was asked about the Freedom of Choice Act in 2009. That act would have codified the right to: “bear a child; terminate a pregnancy prior to fetal viability; or terminate a pregnancy after fetal viability when necessary to protect her life or her health,” into federal law. At that time, Obama said it “is not the highest legislative priority.”

Jones said, “As a Trump presidency comes on the horizon, now more than ever is the time to take control of your reproductive health, no matter what your future plans are,” adding, “We only have each other, and we must struggle for the intent of unity.”

#MilwaukeeWI #ReproRights #RoevWade #Trump #Abortion #MAARPR #ReproductiveJusticeActionMilwaukee #RJAM

Minneapolis, MN – On Thursday, October 4, 30 abortion rights organizers, allies and community members gathered to mourn the deaths and celebrate the lives of Amber Nicole Thurman and Candi Miller. Thurman and Miller tragically passed away because they were unable to access lifesaving reproductive care, as a result of Georgia’s draconian anti-abortion laws. Their stories just recently came to light after the state’s maternal mortality review committee ruled both of their deaths preventable.

The square in front of the Mayday bookstore, where the vigil took place, was bathed in the warm light of candles as the sun set. At the center of crowd, a tree was adorned with pictures honoring the two women, framed by bouquets of flowers.

The vigil, hosted by the Minnesota Abortion Action Committee (MNAAC), began with organizer Kristen Bledsoe painting a more complete picture of Thurman’s and Miller’s lives, stating, “I want to talk for a moment about who they were as people, not just as redacted names on a state committee review but as the living, breathing people they were. Amber Nicole Thurman was 28 years old when she died.”

Bledsoe continued, “According to reports, she loved being a mother to her six-year-old son. She loved taking her son on trips to petting zoos, museums and beaches, and she posted to social media, ‘the talks I have with my son are everything.’ Candi Miller was 41 when she died. The ProPublica report on her death said that she had a soft spot for stray cats, nurtured a garden, and was known to break into dance at the sound of old-school funk like the Commodores.”

Bledsoe went on to discuss the difficulties and dangers that their pregnancies presented them with, and the ways in which Georgia’s legal circumstances surrounding abortion denied them care or prevented them from seeking it out in the first place, and stated, “These women both decided to have abortions to give themselves a better chance at life, and that’s where the story should have ended.”

The next speaker, Monique Cullors-Doty, representing Black Lives MatterMinnesota, BLM Twin Cities Metro, and the Twin Cities Coalition for Justice. She said, “This is truly a reflection of America’s government, it is a reflection of those who are in power, those who don’t care about Black people, those who don’t care about working-class people, who don’t care about the poor. This is very indicative of the actions that they take.”

After both speeches, MNAAC emcee Olivia Crull invited anyone present to come up and speak about their experiences and the impact these deaths had had on them. Several MNAAC members took to the mic to express their grief and the tremendous fear and anger they felt as people in their lives had been forced to navigate repressive abortion legislation or a lack of access to reproductive care.

The vigil ended with Crull leaving the audience with an impassioned call to action to fight back against the political forces behind the anti-abortion movement and join the Minnesota Abortion Action Committee in its grassroots reproductive justice work.

#MinneapolisMN #MN #WomensMovement #ReproductiveRights #Abortion

Minneapolis, MN – On September 10, 40 people rallied to protest predatory anti-abortion “crisis pregnancy center” First Care. This marks the fifth protest of a First Care facility organized by the Minnesota Abortion Action Committee (MNAAC) as part of their campaign to expose the deceptive and manipulative practices of these facilities.

During the protest, Jay Belsito, a member of UnRestrict MN and Gender Justice, recalled their experience with an anti-abortion center as a pregnant teenager in Saint Paul, Minnesota. They were misled about how far along they were in their pregnancy and given fake ultrasound images, a common tactic used to prevent people from making informed choices about their bodies and their health.

Belsito also said CPCs are funded by white Evangelical organizations and frequently target oppressed nationalities. She also drew attention to Keith Ellison’s August 2023 consumer alert in which he defined them as “private organizations that seek to prevent people from accessing abortion care as well as contraceptives.”

“It is absolutely essential that immigrants are not left out of this conversation,” said Sophie Breen, on behalf of the Minnesota Immigrant Rights Action Committee (MIRAC). “Crisis pregnancy centers that are in predominantly immigrant neighborhoods like this one are intentionally deceptive.” She called for accurate communication to be published in not only English but also in the languages of local communities such as Spanish, Somali and Hmong.

“Let’s look at the strategic placement [of First Care],” explained Sarah Berlin, representing MNAAC. “We are right in the center of Minneapolis and just a walk away from both Franklin and Chicago Avenues, two metro transit streets. This accessibility is not a mistake,” she continued.

Kristen Bledsoe echoed these sentiments, sharing that she was raised in an Evangelical family who supported the harmful messages of shame and fear employed by CPCs like First Care to rob people of their bodily autonomy. She demanded that the federal money still going to CPCs should be withdrawn and reinvested in more meaningful ways for communities.

“It’s important to work for justice whether it’s in Phillips or it’s in Palestine,” explained Meredith Aby-Keirstead of the Minnesota Anti-War Committee (AWC). “Many people across the country tonight are watching the Harris-Trump debate, and one of the main topics will be abortion and healthcare. Tim Walz is on the ticket and it’s important to point out that he’s been an ally to this particular movement,” Aby-Keirstead said. “While we agree with him on that, we are discouraged, disgusted, and outraged that Tim Walz and Kamala Harris have been silent when children have been born and then bombed on the same day in Gaza.”

Robyn Harbison, representing the Freedom Road Socialist Organization (FRSO), recalled that it was under Biden and Harris that we lost Roe: “They want to continue lining their pockets and making false promises to you.”

Harbison ended with a call to action, “We helped lead the march of 10,000 that took Washington Avenue when Roe was overturned, we marched on the DNC in the tens of thousands, and we will continue to lead the struggle to demand bodily autonomy for all and money for human needs, right in the Phillips neighborhood, right now!”

A small group of anti-abortion protesters were present, holding signs with religious messaging and signs claiming that abortion is an unambiguous evil.

Despite the counterprotest, the community responded positively to the pro-abortion messaging of the event. Motorists honked and cheered as they drove by, pedestrians expressed vocal support, and people in the park across from first care clapped and expressed positive sentiments about the protest.

This protest was organized by the Minnesota Abortion Action Committee (MNAAC) and endorsed by the Minnesota Immigrant Rights Action Committee (MIRAC), MN Anti-War Committee (AWC), UnRestrict MN, Gender Justice, and Freedom Road Socialist Organization (FRSO).

#MinneapolisMN #WomensMovement #ReproductiveRights #Abortion #MNAAC

Milwaukee, WI – On Saturday, June 22, around 40 people gathered in the rain to bring attention to the two-year anniversary of the Dobbs v Jackson Women’s Health Organization decision voted on by the U.S. Supreme Court, which ended federal abortion protections.

Co-sponsored by Reproductive Justice Action – Milwaukee (RJAM) and the Coalition to March on the RNC, the crowd gathered for several riveting speeches from members of the community, and marched on the Fiserv Forum, where the Republican National Convention is set to happen in a few weeks’ time.

“​​Some of the most corrupt and evil people in this system, responsible for all anti-abortion bills and laws, the Republicans, are coming to Milwaukee in less than three weeks. We must stand up to them as a community and let them know that their racist and reactionary agenda is not welcome here,” remarked Blake Jones, for RJAM.

Maya Seshan, a member of Medical Students for Choice – Medical College of Wisconsin, noted the difficulties doctors have been facing in this climate. “Since the Dobbs decision, physicians across this country have been put in an impossibly challenging place, where they must navigate how to provide life-saving care, when they can be prosecuted.”

“Over the last two years, we have been fighting militantly to protect abortion access and for safe and sustainable communities for all,” said Carly Klein, outreach co-chair for RJA-M. The demands at the march were: Unrestricted access to abortion (no mandatory waiting periods, the right to telehealth services, abortion access beyond 22 weeks, access to abortion pills free of barriers) and free and equitable healthcare for all.

Cady Petralia, outreach co-chair of RJA-M, also spoke about the upcoming Emergency Medical Treatment and Labor Act (EMTALA) cases that the Supreme Court will make decisions on soon. EMTALA is a law that allows abortions and other medical instances to be performed under an emergency, regardless of if the procedure is legal in the state or not. “This could lead to even more disastrous effects on reproductive justice in the U.S.,” Petralia noted.

The event ended with a speech by Aurelia Ceja, co-chair of the Coalition to March on the RNC. They spoke about the importance of showing up to fight against the racist and reactionary agenda of the Republican party, stating, “Our bodies and our lives are not to be used as political pawns for votes, and we will be there to tell the Republicans that we’ve had enough.”

Despite the fallbacks in the past two years, the group left with optimism, determined to not let the Republicans take away any more of our reproductive rights. The crowd ended with the chant, “On July 15, where will we be? In sight and sound of the RNC!”

#MilwaukeeWI #WI #WomensMovement #ReproductiveRights #Abortion #RJAM #RNC

Minneapolis, MN—On June 13, members of the Minnesota Abortion Action Committee (MNAAC) and their allies gathered for an emergency rally after the U.S. Supreme Court ruling on mifepristone. Mifepristone is one of the two drugs commonly used for medication abortion. The ruling affects women and others’ healthcare across the entire country.

30 people held banners and signs, “Defend medical abortion!” and “Safe and legal abortion for all.” The rallygoers listened to speeches from local movement leaders and waved to supporters who drove past.

The Supreme Court ruling on this case, known as FDA v. Alliance for Hippocratic Medicine, maintained mifepristone’s nationwide availability by mail. The court ruled that the anti-abortion Alliance for Hippocratic Medicine did not have standing to sue because they had not actually been negatively affected by the existing FDA regulations.

MNAAC member Carolyn Handke started the program, emphasizing that mifepristone has proven safe and effective for over 20 years. Handke explained there is cause to celebrate for pro-choice activists, but the legal outcome is more complicated than it seems.

Hanke said, “Conservative anti-abortion forces have been gunning for mifepristone ever since it was approved by the FDA, including with this totally bullshit case, where they’ve cherry-picked retracted studies in order to say that mifepristone isn’t safe!”

Handke continued, “They know that restricting mifepristone would be the biggest blow to abortion rights since Roe v. Wade was overturned, and even though they haven’t succeeded this time around, they will be back for more! For now, know that the fight isn’t over!”

Members of Women Against Military Madness (WAMM) and the Anti-War Committee expressed solidarity with the reproductive justice movement. They made clear the connections between U.S. wars abroad and the fight for bodily autonomy at home.

“The issue of bodily autonomy is not just connected to reproductive healthcare, but it is also about reclaiming our power back, in order for all people from all nations and their bodies to be free from the threat of warfare and nuclear annihilation,” said Sarah Martin of WAMM.

Attendees held handmade signs reading “Genocide is not pro-choice” in solidarity with Gazans of Palestine who are currently facing a collapsed healthcare system and constant bombardment by the U.S.-backed Israeli genocide.

Anti-abortion forces have been clear that this will not be the last time they challenge abortion as an accessible medical procedure. In fact, this is already taking place with Idaho and Moyle, et al. v. United States, a case which calls into question the legitimacy of EMTALA (Emergency Medical Treatment and Labor Act)—a federal statute which mandates that hospitals provide the required care to stabilize a patient, including termination of a pregnancy if necessary, and protects doctors who perform emergency abortions in states where abortion is banned.

Bry Chipley of MNAAC spoke, “This portion of EMTALA is now being called into question in states with abortion bans where state legislators want to have the right to persecute doctors performing abortions in instances where the life of the patient is not in immediate danger.”

Chipley continued, “People who are being denied care for conditions such as ectopic pregnancies, are never going to deliver a healthy baby who is expected to live beyond the first few weeks of life. These people are being tortured and subjected to the potential for permanent disability or fertility loss by conservative lawmakers for no reason other than to exercise control over our bodies.”

A decision on the case concerning EMTALA is slated for release by the end of June, and at the end of the rally, activists with MNAAC promised to respond in the streets when the decision drops. For more on future events fighting for reproductive rights, you can follow MNAAC on Twitter, Instagram, TikTok and Facebook at @MN_AAC.

#MinneapolisMN #MN #WomensMovement #ReproductiveRights #Abortion #MNAAC #Mifepristone

Minneapolis, MN – On Friday, May 10, members of the Minnesota Abortion Action Committee (MNAAC) and their supporters protested outside of First Care Pregnancy Center, an anti-abortion “crisis pregnancy center” known for using deceptive tactics and spreading medical disinformation about abortion.

Crisis pregnancy centers, or CPCs, are operated by the anti-abortion right wing. They market themselves as legitimate medical facilities, but in reality, they exist to spread anti-abortion propaganda and manipulate people into keeping unwanted pregnancies. They outnumber real abortion clinics tenfold in the state of Minnesota, presenting a significant barrier to abortion access for Minnesota residents, as well as for the increasing number of people coming to Minnesota for abortion procedures.

MNAAC has protested several locations of First Care Pregnancy Center. However, anti-abortion forces in the Twin Cities, clearly rattled by the work MNAAC has done to expose the true intentions of CPCs, organized counter-protesters for a rally that MNAAC had called in December 2023 at the First Care location on University Avenue. These counter-protesters heckled attendees, held signs allegedly showing aborted fetuses, and filmed attendees even after being asked to stop. As a response to this show of intimidation, MNAAC orchestrated Friday’s surprise rally, assembling a group of trusted supporters to show First Care that they would not be discouraged by opposition.

On its website, First Care claims to provide pregnancy-related support with “No Pressure, No Judgment, Just Answers.” However, MNAAC member Rachel Storm called attention to First Care’s own self-contradiction, as First Care’s website also states that “while abortion often feels like the only option, we don’t believe it’s in the best interest of women.” Storm went on to highlight the dangers of such deceptive, ideologically-motivated messaging, asserting that “a pregnant person has every right to make an informed decision about what happens to their body.”

As protesters waved signs reading “We deserve real healthcare” and “This ‘clinic’ is against contraception,” Jay Belsito, a community organizer with Gender Justice, talked about their accidental encounter with a CPC as a teenager facing an unplanned pregnancy. They faced religious shaming and were forced to watch anti-abortion videos, they said, and this incident led them to oppose crisis pregnancy centers as an adult.

Robyn Harbison, director of Women Against Military Madness (WAMM) and a member of MNAAC, called for the liberation of all bodies from state-sponsored control, stating, “An attack on one body is an attack on all of our bodies,” adding, “the opposition against reproductive healthcare is a declaration of war against us all.” MNAAC member Sarah Murphy stated, “The politicians, lobbyists and wealthy donors who are funding crisis pregnancy centers just like this one are the same people who are supporting the genocide against Palestinians.”

A member of Students for a Democratic Society at the University of Minnesota condemned the presence of a CPC so close to their university campus and spoke about their experience of having to obtain an abortion as a teenager after being assaulted. They felt lucky, they said, that there was a Planned Parenthood nearby instead of a CPC, emphasizing the fact that First Care’s location on University Avenue is inherently predatory toward young people.

MNAAC member Kristen Bledsoe closed out the protest by demonstrating the impact that CPCs have across the movements for immigrant rights, racial justice and LGBTQ rights. “The women’s movement has a direct connection to these struggles because all of these struggles stem from the same source – the ruling class,” she said. “When we stand outside of these CPCs and shout at the top of our lungs, when we educate our communities about the dangers of CPCs, when we fight for legislation that will restrict the ability of these places to continue harming people, we are striking at a target that reverberates across all of our movements and echoes all the way up to the top!”

Passersby cheered and honked car horns in response to the protesters’ chants of “Pro-life, that’s a lie! You don’t care if people die!” and “One, two, three, four! Abortion is worth fighting for!” making it clear that First Care is unwelcome in the Twin Cities and that abortion rights remain widely supported by community members.

MNAAC continues its campaign against crisis pregnancy centers via education and outreach, protests outside of “crisis pregnancy centers” and progress toward regulating CPCs at the city level. You can follow their work on Twitter, Instagram, TikTok and Facebook at @MN_AAC.

#MinneapolisMN #MN #WomensMovement #ReproductiveRights #Abortion #CrisisPregnancyCenter #MNAAC