TAMPA, FL –– Today, Free & Just’s “Ride to Decide” national bus tour stopped in Tampa to highlight what’s at stake as extremist lawmakers work to ban abortion nationwide. The Ride to Decide bus tour comes as attacks on reproductive freedom escalate across the country. Support for legal abortion has increased since Roe v. Wade was overturned in 2022, but that hasn’t stopped anti-abortion extremists and conservative lawmakers from continuing to undermine Americans’ access to abortion care, birth control, and IVF treatment. 

At the roundtable, local patient storytellers, student organizers, and local leaders shared how attacks on reproductive freedom harm women and families in Florida and across the country.

“There is a literal war happening in Florida for our reproductive rights, and there are casualties to the six-week ban,” said Sarah Parker, the Executive Director of Voices of Florida, a Black and queer-led organization dedicated to defending human rights and reproductive freedom. Parker blasted anti-abortion extremists who claim that “exceptions” under Florida law protect people who need abortions in the state. “There are no exceptions. This is a near total abortion ban, and they do not care. We have to do everything we can to make sure the people we love are safe, and able to access the health care that they need.”

Sabrina Bousbar, a Pinellas County native and former HHS official spoke directly to extremist lawmakers in Florida and across the country: “You need to be held accountable for your actions. You have made it clear that you will do anything in your power to enact a national abortion ban, instead of protecting families or women. You need to stop. These laws are so harmful and do nothing good for your communities. You are supposed to defend us, protect us, and help us. Right now, you’re doing the exact opposite.”

“You don’t know you’re going to need abortion care until you need it,” said Kris Lawler, who serves as Board President of the Tampa Bay Abortion Fund, and highlighted the growing need for support in accessing abortion care in the Tampa Bay area. “We see people come to us who don’t know about the six-week ban, don’t know where their nearest clinic is, or don’t know that they’re in a county that doesn’t have a clinic at all. That’s why we should all speak up. Speak to your friends and family about how to access abortion care and how to fight for reproductive justice.”

“Florida is not a safe place to be pregnant right now,” said Bree Wallace, the Director of Case Management at the Tampa Bay Abortion Fund who highlighted how the state’s current abortion ban is creating confusion among patients, and making it difficult for all communities to access the care they need. “The six-week ban that is in place right now affects all of us, including people who want to be pregnant, or people who already have children and know that they can’t have more right now for a number of reasons.”

“If we remain silent, nothing will change,” said Alyssa White, an organizer with Florida Student Power, an organization that is building power in Black and Brown communities with young people leading the movement and decision-making process. “Sharing information and educating the community on the current abortion ban, and where they can go to access care is important. If we don’t talk about this, who will?”

“Today, I am reminded that together we can work to make sure that everyone in Tampa Bay and across Florida has access to health care, is respected, and is reminded that they are worthy of dignity,” said Jennifer De Jesus, the Chief Learning & Equity Officer of Pro-Choice Therapists, who moderated the discussion. 

The “Ride to Decide” tour is headed to Orlando next, where State Representative Anna Eskamani will join local storytellers to spotlight the real-life impacts of abortion bans and attacks on reproductive freedom and share why federal action to protect access to abortion and reproductive health care has never been more important.

You can watch the event here. If you are interested in speaking with any of the participants in the press event, please contact kelly@freeandjust.us. 

Free & Just is committed to fighting for reproductive freedom. Join us in sharing stories, raising voices, and securing our future. 

###

Free & Just is fighting to stop attacks on reproductive freedom and rights. We’re working with people across the country to share real stories to show the devastating consequences of attacks on our reproductive freedom. We all deserve the right to control our bodies and lives. That’s why we’re sharing our stories, raising our voices, and fighting for our future.