MACON, GA –– Yesterday, Free & Just’s “Ride to Decide” national bus tour arrived in Macon 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 event, local patient storytellers, health care providers, and community members shared how attacks on reproductive freedom harm women and families in Georgia and across the country.

“Outlawing abortion inevitably impacts families experiencing pregnancy loss. Hopeful parents see their dreams turn into nightmares as they navigate the legal minefield abortion bans create,”

said Julia Callahan, the co-founder of Middle Georgia 4 Choice, who detailed her experience with pregnancy loss, and shared her fears of miscarrying again under the extreme abortion ban in effect across Georgia today. “While extremist politicians have succeeded in banning abortion in twenty three states, they want to go even further by criminalizing the procedure nationwide. If they succeed, grieving parents like me could be jailed for losing a baby that they wanted.”

“I graduated nursing school in 1972, just one year before Roe v. Wade was decided,” said Lynne Snyder, a former nurse practitioner who grew emotional while sharing a handful of stories from women who accessed abortion care and went on to raise happy, healthy families when they were ready. “Reproductive health care is so important, and we cannot go backwards.” 

“Women shouldn’t be alienated and feel scared to go to the doctor because they feel like they are going to be denied care,” said Kristen Crane, a member of Middle Georgia 4 Choice, who suffered a miscarriage and is speaking out about how abortion bans affect women who need urgent medical care. “When abortion rights are under attack, all pregnancy care is under attack.”

“During my chidbearing years, I had every option on the table,” said Mia Robbins-Aguilar, who co-founded Middle Georgia 4 Choice. “I am here because I am angered, and I am afraid for my nieces and every young girl that I come into contact with. They should all have the same rights that I had. They should all have access to care and medical treatment.”  

The “Ride to Decide” tour is headed to Atlanta next, where local storytellers will 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.

If you are interested in audio or b-roll from today’s event, or would like to speak 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. 

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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.