HARRISBURG, PA –– Today, local health care providers, patient storytellers, and community leaders joined Free & Just’s “Ride to Decide” national bus tour event in Harrisburg 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 Pennsylvania and across the country.

“I want to be able to do my job, and I want my patients to have access to care,” said Dr. Annahieta Kalantari, a board certified emergency medicine physician who practices in the area. Dr. Kalantri explained how attacks on reproductive freedom affect doctors and patients experiencing pregnancy complications. “In the emergency department, we take care of everyone – we welcome everyone with open arms. Attacks on reproductive rights compromise our ability to do that.”

“Less than two years ago, extremist lawmakers here in Pennsylvania launched an attempt to add language to our state’s constitution that says there is no right to abortion at all,” said Ronna Dewey, the Program Director of Red Wine and Blue Pennsylvania. Dewey explained that while abortion is currently legally protected in Pennsylvania, anti-aboriton extremists continue to look for new ways to attack reproductive freedom across the state.

“Without IVF, I would not have the grandchildren that I have,” said Rev. Joan M. Sabatino, who serves as the Director of the Unitarian Universalist Justice PA (UUJusticePA). Reverend Sabatino grew emotional while describing her daughters’ experience growing their families with IVF, a treatment anti-abortion extremists are targeting in states across the country. “I am opposed to our government attacking my daughters’ choice to have a family. Laws that regulate women’s choices don’t make any sense.” 

“In Pennsylvania, providers are playing the part of travel agents as well when patients come from out of state,” said Adam Hosey, who serves as Policy Director for Planned Parenthood Pennsylvania Advocates. Hosey highlighted how abortion restrictions in Pennsylvania, including mandatory waiting periods and “counseling,” limit access to care and harm patients. “We have a vision for a future in Pennsylvania where abortion is not only accessible, but affordable and folks do not feel stigmatized because of their health care choices. It’s something we can do, but we have to work together.” 

“We know that 8 in 10 Americans support abortion rights – that is why this fight is far from over,” said Annie Wu Henry, a popular content creator and digital media strategist who grew up in Pennsylvania. Henry, who was adopted from China, also criticized anti-abortion activists who push adoption as an alternative to abortion. “It’s infuriating to me when people speak on behalf of the adopted community.”

The “Ride to Decide” tour is headed to Pittsburgh next, where Congresswoman Summer Lee (PA-12) and State Representative Arvind Venkat 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. 

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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.