Advocates Call on Congress to Protect Reproductive Freedom and Access to Abortion Care
Washington, D.C — Abortion storytellers with Free & Just traveled from Arizona, Louisiana, Texas, and Virginia to the nation’s capital this week to share their stories ahead of President Biden’s State of the Union address and highlight the harmful and severe human impacts of abortion bans. These storytellers joined the Pro-Choice Caucus alongside the Democratic Women’s Caucus and Whip Katherine Clark on Capitol Hill yesterday with providers, patients, and advocates to call on lawmakers to protect our reproductive freedom and fight for federal protections against Republican efforts to pass a strict nationwide abortion ban.
In his State of the Union address, President Biden emphasized his intent to protect reproductive rights, promising Americans that he would continue his fight to restore abortion protections as the nation approaches two years since the overturning of Roe v. Wade, which endangered the health of millions of Americans by restricting access to reproductive care in dozens of states across the country.
First Lady Jill Biden sat with two women, Kate Cox and Latorya Beasley, who have suffered in the wake of state abortion restrictions that took effect after the fall of Roe, to emphasize the administration’s commitment to fighting these unpopular and dangerous bans.
Rohini Kousalya Siva, MD, MPH, MS, from Norfolk, VA watched President Biden’s address in person as a guest of Congressman Bobby Scott (VA-03). Rohini is the president of the American Medical Student Association, and plans to practice obstetrics and gynecology. She regularly speaks about what the overturning of Roe means for medical students, the next generation of providers, and reproductive care.
“I was honored to join Congressman Scott as his guest at the State of the Union and to join together with so many fellow advocates to stand up for reproductive freedom,” said Dr. Rohini Kousalya Siva, future OBGYN and President of the American Medical Student Association. “Abortion is a vital aspect of comprehensive health care and no elected official should come between me and my patients in the exam room. Individuals should be given the dignity and respect to make their own decisions, in consultation with their trusted medical practitioners– without interference from politicians.”
“Kate Cox’s story is familiar for too many Texans,” said DakotaRei Frausto of San Antonio, Texas. “I was forced to travel 11 hours and over 700 miles to New Mexico to receive my abortion after Texas’ medical and legislative negligence resulted in me pregnant. In the clinic waiting room, I spoke with patients who had also traveled from all over Texas to receive care – a journey no one should have to make. I realized I wasn’t alone in that waiting room and I’m so proud to stand with advocates and storytellers from across the country who have been harmed by abortion bans and refuse to let fallacious policies continue to harm the most vulnerable in our country.”
“Conservatives have been attacking abortion rights and our bodily autonomy piece by piece for decades,” said Emma Burns from Flagstaff, Arizona who received a medication abortion as a college student. “Now conservatives are coming after medication abortion, which is the next step in their plan to completely ban abortion across the country. As angry as I am that we have to keep fighting for our rights, I am so inspired by the community of storytellers who gathered today to take collective action to protect our freedoms.”
“I was proud to join with so many advocates today to stand up to attacks on our freedoms," said Professor Nicole Walker, who shared her story in an op-ed for the New York Times titled ‘My Abortion at 11 Wasn't a Choice. It Was My Life.’ “When we all come together and share our stories, our voices are amplified and we start to sound more like a chorus. We will speak out and not stand by while extremists in Congress continue to chip away at our freedoms.”
“In my home state of Louisiana, due to the state’s abortion ban, my own doctors couldn’t even tell me what was happening to me or provide the care I needed while I was miscarrying,” said Kaitlyn Joshua of Baton Rouge, Louisiana. “That’s what Speaker Mike Johnson wants for women across the country – confusion, isolation, and fear, and we won’t stand for it. I was proud to speak out against attacks on our freedoms today and say no to a national abortion ban.”
If you would like to interview one of these storytellers for a story, please email maggie@freeandjust.us
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About Free & Just
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.