Milwaukee, WI – On July 11, Reproductive Justice Action Milwaukee (RJAM) held a press conference in front of Milwaukee City Hall concerning the recent updates to the lawsuit being pursued by Wisconsin Attorney General Josh Kaul against the 1849 state statute 940.04. This lawsuit was launched by Kaul on June 28, 2022, in response to the Supreme Court’s Dobbs v. Jackson decision and came in the wake of mass protests across the state.

If this lawsuit wins, the next hurdle to abortion access will be from a different state statute, 940.195, which says that anyone who “causes bodily harm to an unborn child by an act done with intent to cause bodily harm to that unborn child, to the woman who is pregnant with that unborn child or another” is guilty of a misdemeanor and several felonies. This was included as a part of Wisconsin's Abortion Prevention and Family Responsibility Act of 1985. The law is vague by design and keeps the door open to criminalize women and others seeking abortions as well as those medical professionals who provide the services.

On July 7, Dane County Judge Diane Schlipper said in a ruling, “There is no such thing as an ‘1849 Abortion Ban’ in Wisconsin. A physician who performs a consensual medical abortion commits a crime only after the fetus or unborn child reaches viability.”

“In short, this doesn’t mean abortion access will be immediately restored,” said Blake Jones, propaganda chair of RJAM, during their July 11 press conference. “However, this ruling will most likely be referred to the Wisconsin Supreme Court to vote on sometime after August 1.”

After the Wisconsin Supreme Court decides on this lawsuit, Wisconsin would revert to the more recent state statute 940.15. “This statute includes banning telehealth consultations, requires parental consent for an abortion, and a mandatory 24-hour waiting period,” said Jones.

During the press conference, RJAM recognized the importance of 940.04 being made obsolete, but also recognized that the fight for abortion access is not over. The organization is calling for abortion access on demand, with no mandatory waiting periods, access to telemedicine consultations, and rural access to abortion services.

“We, along with other grassroots organizations, are committed to fighting for the expansion and protection of reproductive healthcare, to protect the right to bodily autonomy, and to ensure that right can never be threatened again in the state of Wisconsin,” said Jones.

#MilwaukeeWI #AbortionBan #AbortionRights #reproductiveJustice

Milwaukee, WI – On April 4, activists with Reproductive Justice Action – Milwaukee (RJAM) celebrated the end of the Wisconsin spring election. Many organizations poured energy into the extremely important State Supreme Court election, which had reproductive rights, workers' rights, and fair electoral maps taking center stage. RJAM focused on getting voters to the polls by encouraging Milwaukee people to vote in favor of an advisory referendum, polling Milwaukee County’s opinion on overturning the state's 1849 abortion ban.

RJAM was able to win this advisory referendum after picketing county supervisors’ homes over the summer. The referendum saw an overwhelming 76% of voters in Milwaukee County in favor of overturning the abortion ban. The same advisory referendum in Dane County (where Wisconsin's capitol city of Madison resides) had 85% for overturning the ban.

Milwaukee and Dane County make up over 25% of the entire population of Wisconsin. What this demonstrates is that there's a people's mandate for the elimination of Wisconsin State Statue 940.04 -the abortion ban. These non-binding referendums are vital to continuing pressure on the Wisconsin legislature to overturn the ban and provide legal and safe abortions.

RJAM canvassed 1000 homes in the Milwaukee community, specifically focusing on areas with the lowest voter turnout. Spring elections in Wisconsin usually have very low voter turnout, but due to the high stakes and various canvassing efforts, this election had record breaking voter turnout for a spring election in Wisconsin.

These referendum results and a new progressive justice elected to Wisconsin Supreme Court lead to favorable conditions to the fight for legal abortion access. RJAM is excited to continue the fight and demand this referendum be made binding.

#MilwaukeeWI #AbortionBan #AbortionRights

Tampa FL – On April 8, dozens of community members gathered to protest the six-week abortion ban recently passed in the state government. Led by the Tampa Bay Community Action Committee (TBCAC) the people of Tampa spoke out against the abortion ban and the repression happening across the state of Florida.

The six-week abortion ban would not only drastically shorten the span of time in which people are legally allowed to get an abortion, but also gives an extra $25 million in funding each year from the state to anti-abortion clinics. These are fake clinics that lie to those seeking abortion, potentially endangering them through misinformation about their pregnancy.

Freedom Road Socialist Organization (FRSO) member Lauren Pineiro spoke at the protest, “Despite how unpopular abortion bans are, Ron DeSantis continues to push forward attacks on bodily autonomy as a part of his right-wing, billionaire-funded agenda. Yet, the people of Florida are the ones who hold the power and, as we can see by today’s protest, we will continue to fight back against any and all attacks on the women’s, LBGTQ and reproductive rights movements.”

On Monday April 3, in an act of political repression, 11 Occupy Tally protesters were arrested in Tallahassee trying to stand up against the six-week abortion ban. Reproductive rights are wildly popular among the people, yet the state government suppresses those trying to fight for those rights because the government of Florida wants to have full control of women’s bodies.

The Tampa community itself is familiar with political repression for trying to stand against laws being passed by Ron DeSantis and the state government. Just last month we witnessed the arrests of the Tampa 4, who are now the Tampa 5.

In Tallahassee, the Occupy Tally protestors were still going strong against the six-week abortion ban even after the arrests. TBCAC’s April 8 rally in downtown Tampa was an act of solidarity with Occupy Tally – giving voice to those who could not be in Tallahassee.

Together we can fight back against oppressive legislation not just in Florida but across the country.

#TampaFL #AbortionBan #AbortionRights

Milwaukee, WI – On the afternoon of October 2, Freedom Road Socialist Organization – Wisconsin held a demonstration to protest Texas’ abortion ban. This was held in collaboration with the Milwaukee Alliance Against Racial and Political Repression and Students for a Democratic Society, and with coordination from a couple of individual organizers. The demonstration consisted of a march through downtown from Planned Parenthood to the Milwaukee office of Senator Ron Johnson, a noted reactionary and proponent of the same ideas encompassed by the Texas law. Once outside Senator Johnson’s office, organizers transitioned into a rally with guest speakers.

The purpose of this event was to oppose attacks on reproductive rights and put pressure on Johnson to let him know that we are watching him and will not stand idly by if his friends in Madison attempt to pass a Texas-like bill in Wisconsin.

Allison Smith, a speaker representing Students for a Democratic Society, said, “As I stand here, I worry about my own ability to make choices for myself about my own body, and I fear for those who may lose access to necessary, lifesaving healthcare as a result of this bill. As many of us already know, six weeks is an absurdly short window to determine whether or not to terminate a pregnancy. In fact, many people who become pregnant aren’t even aware of it until after such a time frame has passed.”

Smith continued, “As we move forward, we must demand that our representatives take action against laws as regressive and cruel as this. We must throw our full support behind organizations such as Planned Parenthood that fight to protect lives and rights. Furthermore, we have a responsibility to support medical providers and healthcare workers in their fight to protect the bodily autonomy of their patients. With today’s demonstration, we have shown our solidarity with those in Texas most affected by this bill, as well as with marginalized communities in the United States and the rest of the world.”

#MilwaukeeWI #PeoplesStruggles #AbortionBan

Minneapolis, MN – The Women’s March organized a rally and march as a part the National Day of Action on October 2 to protest the anti-abortion law passed in Texas in June. Up to 10,000 people of all genders gathered at the Minneapolis Sculpture Garden holding signs and banners expressing their outrage over the Texas law SB 8.

The new law effectively bans all abortions after six weeks and has no provisions for a woman for any reason to get one. It includes a terrifying provision where people can sue any woman who gets an abortion and anyone who may assist them – including doctors, friends, family members and even Uber drivers.

Throughout the rally, the speakers highlighted why it was important to be here right now. Many echoed phrases, “We will not go back to the way it was before Roe v. Wade.” “We must continue to fight back against any anti-abortion laws that will put women in danger and restrict their access to abortions.”

Signs included “My body my choice,” “We won’t go back,” “They love you until you are born,” “Vasectomies stop abortions” and “Forced birth equals violence.” Some featured a picture of deceased Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg with the slogan, “We are ruthless now, act accordingly.” Men held signs, “If your penis was regulated, would you vote differently?” “He who is without ovaries shall not make laws for those who do,” and “Her body – her choice.”

When the march started, the banner of “Bans off our bodies” was proudly displayed in front. As the crowd marched over a bridge from the Sculpture Garden to Loring Park for the main rally, cars passing underneath honked in support and the people waved back. The march was so long that that it took an hour and a half to fully cross over the bridge to the park.

The marchers chanted, “When women’s rights are under attack, what do we do? Stand up fight back!” “They say no choice, we say prochoice!” “We won’t go back to the alleys in the night!” “Stop the ban!”

Speakers pointed out that there is a lot of work to be done in Minnesota, by removing abortion restrictions, needing to break down barriers, protect and expand access and funding – but that the pro-choice people outnumber those they are fighting against.

A handful of anti-choicers tried to disrupt the rally but were quickly shut down by the people around them.

A speaker representing the Planned Parenthood Action Fund told the crowd, “The attacks we are seeing on abortion are not about protecting life but instead will do harm. Our most vulnerable, low-income, rural and communities of color will be hit the hardest if abortion becomes illegal. Abortion is essential healthcare. We must protect our bodies, our rights and our rights here in Minnesota. We cannot let a bill like the one in Texas pass here.”

A member of Youth Against Sexual Violence Minnesota Chapter and who works at Planned Parenthood rallied the crowd, “We absolutely cannot let a room full of male politicians decide what happens with our bodies and our futures. Minnesota cannot become Texas. We must provide reproductive and sexual healthcare now and our generation is in the future. They may think that young people don’t care and are not paying attention but what they don’t realize is that there are thousands and thousands of young people who are not settling for the status quo. We will not stop raising our voices until reproductive healthcare is reality for all of us!”

Nature Inger, human rights advocate from Botswana stated, “It just infuriates me that we have to be here. The people who create these laws are spending time with their families, wives and daughters. Let’s face it and, in most cases, they will not have to adhere to these rules and laws.”

More speakers noted the abortion movement cannot be separated from other movements. The community will attain reproductive justice when abortion is safe, legal and accessible.

#MinneapolisMN #Healthcare #PeoplesStruggles #AbortionBan #WomensMarch

Arlington, TX – On September 1, the Progressive Student Union rallied 50 people to protest the recent attacks launched by Governor Greg Abbott and the GOP against women’s rights, and democracy. The most egregious of these attacks came in the form of an anti-abortion bill that sought to restrict the access to abortion in Texas to only the first six weeks of pregnancy, and made it a liable offense to offer aid in a woman getting an abortion in any way if it was beyond the first six weeks.

Mark Napieralski, chief organizer of PSU, spoke to the long history of Texas’s attempts to restrict and defund abortion providers in the state, dating all the way back to the early 2000s when Texas sought to specifically defund Planned Parenthood. He also spoke about the tragic reality of women seeking abortions when they were illegal, like Geraldine Santoro. “If abortions aren’t regulated and safe, we’re going to see more and more women dying painfully like Santoro,” he said.

Ebonee Richards, another chief organizer for PSU, helped lead in chants with the crowd such as “When women’s rights are under attack, what do we do? Stand up, fight back!” and “Abortion is a right!” She echoed that the attacks on abortion are fundamentally an attack on women’s rights, as they are the first steppingstone in attempting to push women back further into the background.

Syamon, a speaker and member of PSU, spoke of the two-pronged attack Abbott is waging against Texans as a whole. She recalled that attacking abortion rights are an instinctual fear of women becoming bolder, more independent, and having to not live in the background anymore. She spoke to the fact the GOP are using the same tools and institutions to attack democratic rights and women’s rights in one fell swoop.

She ended off the protest by saying, “We had a good turnout. I’m so glad to see so many new faces to UTA who were not just brave enough to believe in access to abortion, but fight for it as well. We can move mountains so long as we remain organized, mobilized, and ready to win!”

#ArlingtonTX #StudentMovement #Healthcare #PeoplesStruggles #AbortionBan #ProgressiveStudentUnion

Austin, TX – Around 100 people rallied at the Texas State Capitol on September 1 to protest against the statewide abortion ban that went into effect that same day. Texas abortion clinics have been forced to stop taking appointments in order to avoid what could be thousands of lawsuits against them. The new law especially affects low-income and working-class women who don’t have the resources to take time off work, since the ban forces women in Texas to drive an average of 248 miles one way to access an abortion clinic out of state.

Austin Students for a Democratic Society (SDS) organized Wednesday’s action and co-led the rally along with the Feminist Action Project, another student organization based at the University of Texas-Austin.

The central demands of the protest were to stop Governor Greg Abbott’s attacks on women, and to call for abortion rights and democracy. Chants included, “Governor Abbott, you can’t hide! You don’t care if women die!” and, “When women’s rights are under attack, what do we do? Stand up, fight back!”

The protest began with a rally outside the capitol building, featuring many chants and speeches. Protesters then marched down Colorado and 11th Streets, and finally into the capitol itself, where chants echoed loudly throughout the building. The protest closed out with a call to action, urging all who attended to stay organized and join organizations like SDS or the Feminist Action Project to continue the struggle.

#AustinTX #PeoplesStruggles #AbortionBan #AustinSDS

Asheville, NC – On Aug. 8, protesters gathered in downtown here, to rally for an end to the attacks against women and against abortion restrictions in North Carolina. The event was organized by WORD (Women Organized to Resist and Defend).

Protesters chanted, “When women's rights are under attack, what do we do? Stand up fight back!” referencing the latest abortion restrictions in North Carolina that were first snuck into an Anti-Sharia Law bill, then ultimately added to a Motorcycle Safety Bill.

Emily Parker, an organizer with WORD, spoke saying, “The war on women is apparent. Right now in North Carolina you cannot receive an abortion procedure. Although it is not technically illegal, there are no clinics for one to go to. Femcare in Asheville is being pushed around by right-wing bullies who don't want women to have the right to choose.”

Protesters rallied in support of Femcare, the only abortion provider in western North Carolina which was recently shut down for nearly 24 health and safety violations. This was a clear politically-motivated attack against women. Several protesters noted that the violations don't seem to be serious and that it was very suspicious that they should be inspected and closed right after this bill was passed.

“Femcare has been safely serving this city since 1985. Their staff is nothing but kind and helpful. Their facilities are nothing but safe and sanitary. Femcare has never had an infection since it has opened. Thanks to the new restrictive abortion bill, they are being forced to temporarily shut their doors even though they would've been the last remaining clinic in the state. The North Carolina government says these new laws will ensure women's safety but in reality they are causing women physical harm and hardship,” Parker said.

Protesters marched through downtown Asheville carrying signs that read “End the war on women,” and “We won't go back, we'll fight back!”

#AshevilleNC #PeoplesStruggles #abortion #NorthCarolina #feminism #WomensRights #AbortionBan #Rally #WomensLiberation