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Dr. Caitlin Gustafson Travels to DC to Highlight Dangers of Idaho Abortion Ban with Democratic Women’s Caucus and House Democrats for Women’s History Month
Mayor Satya Rhodes-Conway and Local Patient Advocates Mark Would-Be Roe Anniversary, Warn of Coming Attacks on Reproductive Freedom
“Ride to Decide” Bus Tour Kickoff in Madison, Brings Together Religious Leaders, Health Care Providers, and Patient Advocates to Spotlight Harms of Abortion Bans
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ICYMI: Dr. Caitlin Gustafson Addresses House Members on the Dangers of Extreme Abortion Bans in Washington D.C.
For Immediate Release
April 3, 2025
Contact: Malachi White, malachi@freeandjust.us
ICYMI: Dr. Caitlin Gustafson Addresses House Members on the Dangers of Extreme Abortion Bans in Washington D.C.
During her visit, Dr. Gustafson was honored for her work as a rural family physician and her advocacy for reproductive freedom in states with extreme abortion bans.
WASHINGTON, DC –– This week to close out Women’s History Month, Dr. Caitlin Gustafson met with members of Congress, including members of the Democratic Women’s Caucus, to advocate against abortion bans in her home state of Idaho and across the country.
During her visit to the nation’s capital she was honored for her work as a clinician and rural family physician in Idaho while fighting to defend access to lifesaving medical care amidst ongoing attacks from the Trump administration and extreme anti-abortion policy makers.
Dr. Gustafson addressed House Democratic leadership and members of the Democratic Women’s Caucus while being honored for her work. Remarks can be found below:
“Thank you to the DWC and to Chairwoman Fernandez. I also want to thank Free and Just who brought me out here and has elevated this work, and done the work of bringing storytellers to this issue because that's really what it takes is for us to continue to tell the hardest stories out there. Unfortunately, that's the time we're living in. For me, as a rural family doctor, I've lost a lot. In Idaho, I have the privilege of taking care of families, generations of families in Idaho. I love it. I had the dream job, until the Idaho abortion ban came into effect. Some of you know what's going on with EMTALA—that is just the tip of the issue for the abortion care issue. It’s so important to the fight that we're fighting for basic emergency care as it relates to reproductive health care. So thanks again for keeping the fight going, for understanding how important this is, for elevating the stories of patients, providers, and families who are affected by this issue. Reproductive freedom is an American dream. It doesn't have to be just a dream, though. It's an American right. We will get there, I’m keeping the hope. Thank you very much for having me and for this honor.”
Earlier this month the Trump administration abandoned the legal challenge to Idaho’s abortion ban regarding the right to emergency abortion care under the Emergency Medical Treatment and Active Labor Act (EMTALA). Subsequently, an Idaho federal judge issued a decision granting a preliminary injunction against the state abortion ban that applies only to St. Luke’s, the largest health system in Idaho, meaning that whether or not patients can receive life-saving emergency care in Idaho depends on which ER they show up to, as every other hospital and provider in Idaho will once again be forced to airlift patients out of state or wait until their conditions worsen before they can intervene to provide the necessary care.
Protecting abortion rights and expanding access to care has never been more universally popular, uniting Americans of all race, gender, socio-economic status, geography, and political affiliations. Surveys have found that only 15% of people had heard a lot or some about the Emergency Medical Treatment and Active Labor Act. Still, despite the popularity of access to abortion care, the Trump administration continues to attack access to this lifesaving emergency care.
If you are interested in speaking with Dr. Gustafson about her experience in DC or as a provider in Idaho, or patients living in Idaho regarding their experience living in a post Roe world, please contact kelly@freeandjust.us. If you are interested in learning more about the research gathered regarding state-level abortion bans and federal activity, please contact malachi@freeandjust.us.
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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.
Dr. Caitlin Gustafson Travels to DC to Highlight Dangers of Idaho Abortion Ban with Democratic Women’s Caucus and House Democrats for Women’s History Month
For Immediate Release
March 31, 2025
Contact: Malachi White, malachi@freeandjust.us
Dr. Caitlin Gustafson Travels to DC to Highlight Dangers of Idaho Abortion Ban with Democratic Women’s Caucus and House Democrats for Women’s History Month
Dr. Gustafson is a family physician in McCall, Idaho and the Co-President of the Idaho Coalition for Safe Healthcare
WASHINGTON, DC –– Today, Dr. Caitlin Gustafson met with members of Congress, including members of the Democratic Women’s Caucus, to advocate against abortion bans in her home state of Idaho and across the country.
During her visit to the nation’s capital she was honored for her work as a clinician and family physician in Idaho while fighting to defend access to lifesaving medical care. The honor comes at the end of Women’s History Month, amidst ongoing attacks from the Trump administration and MAGA Republicans to restrict and ban access to lifesaving abortion care in Idaho and across the country.
Dr. Gustafson has continuously spoken out against these attacks and the consequences abortion bans have on patients in her community and nationwide.
“As a rural family physician, my practice is broad in scope and often includes pregnancy, labor and delivery care for my patients who do not have access to specialized services,” said Dr. Caitlin Gustafson. “I’m honored to be recognized by the Democratic Women’s Caucus, and it’s not lost on me that I am receiving this honor at a time where the Trump Administration and MAGA Republicans are attacking abortion access for patients across the country, including access to lifesaving emergency abortion care. I came to Washington DC to educate lawmakers about what’s at stake for the patients I serve every day – including the right to receive life-saving emergency care no matter which emergency room they go to in the state of Idaho.”
Earlier this month the Trump administration abandoned the legal challenge to Idaho’s abortion ban regarding the right to emergency abortion care under the Emergency Medical Treatment and Active Labor Act (EMTALA). Subsequently, just last week, an Idaho federal judge issued a decision granting a preliminary injunction against the state abortion ban that applies only to St. Luke’s, the largest health system in Idaho, meaning that whether or not patients can receive life-saving emergency care in Idaho depends on which ER they show up to, as every other hospital and provider in Idaho will once again be forced to airlift patients out of state or wait until their conditions worsen before they can intervene to provide the necessary care.
“Dr. Gustafson’s work and advocacy is critical to ensure the well-being and safety of patients in her community and across the country.” said Veronica Ingham, Senior Campaigns Director for Free & Just. “As the Trump administration and MAGA extremists in Congress use every tool at their disposal to restrict or ban abortion nationwide, including in states like Idaho, providers like Dr. Gustafson are being put in impossible positions because the government thinks it knows better than Idaho families and their doctors. The Trump Administration’s decision to abandon the EMTALA case means that more women will be at risk of dying, full stop.”
Protecting abortion rights and expanding access to care has never been more universally popular, uniting Americans of all race, gender, socio-economic status, geography, and political affiliations. Surveys have found that only 15% of people had heard a lot or some about the Emergency Medical Treatment and Active Labor Act. Still, despite the popularity of access to abortion care, the Trump administration continues to attack access to this lifesaving emergency care.
If you are interested in speaking with Dr. Gustafson about her experience in DC or as a provider in Idaho, or patients living in Idaho regarding their experience living in a post Roe world, please contact kelly@freeandjust.us. If you are interested in learning more about the research gathered regarding state-level abortion bans and federal activity, please contact malachi@freeandjust.us.
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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.
*ICYMI* Free & Just Launches Digital Ads Highlighting Trump Administration’s New Attack on Access to Lifesaving Emergency Care
For Immediate Release
March 10, 2025
Contact: Malachi White, malachi@freeandjust.us
Free & Just Launches Digital Ads Highlighting Trump Administration’s New Attack on Access to Lifesaving Emergency Care
Six-figure ad buy in Georgia, Texas, and Wisconsin spotlights deadly implications of the Trump administration’s move to limit access to emergency care
WASHINGTON, DC –– Today, Free and Just launched new digital ads responding to the Trump administration abandoning the legal challenge to Idaho’s ban on emergency abortion care. The six-figure digital buy in Georgia, Texas, and Wisconsin educates Americans about the decision that puts millions of patients and families at risk and the lives of women in the hands of extremist politicians.
You can watch the ad here.
“Last week, just hours before the President’s joint address to Congress, the Trump administration quietly launched a deadly new attack on abortion access which could leave millions of women across the country without access to lifesaving medical care,” said Veronica Ingham, Senior Campaigns Director for Free & Just. “Abortion bans hurt all of us, no matter where we live, and they are a horrific example of government overreach that gets in the way of lifesaving care for women. The Trump administration has already shown us that they are using every tool at their disposal to restrict or ban abortion nationwide. These ads spotlight how this administration's extreme anti-abortion agenda puts the lives of millions of women at risk. Abortion bans are killing women, and instead of focusing on protecting access to lifesaving medical care, extreme politicians in the White House and Congress are working to roll back patient’s rights even further.”
Protecting abortion rights and expanding access to care has never been more universally popular, uniting Americans of all race, gender, socio-economic status, geography, and political affiliations. The Emergency Medical Treatment and Active Labor Act (EMTALA) is a federal law that requires hospitals to provide emergency medical treatment to anyone who needs it, regardless of their ability to pay or insurance status. Importantly, this includes emergency abortion care when a pregnancy threatens a patient's life or health. The administration's decision to drop this legal challenge could allow states to restrict emergency abortion care even when medically necessary to save a patient's life. Surveys have found that while only 15% of people had heard a lot or some about the Emergency Medical Treatment and Active Labor Act, the protections guaranteed by the law are overwhelmingly popular. Still, despite the popularity of access to abortion care, the Trump administration continues to attack access to this lifesaving emergency care.
If you are interested in speaking with healthcare providers or patients about their experience living in a post Roe world, please contact kelly@freeandjust.us. If you are interested in learning more about the research gathered regarding state-level abortion bans and federal activity, please contact malachi@freeandjust.us.
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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.
Ahead of Trump’s Address, Senator Patty Murray, Former Rep. Colin Allred, and Guests Who Attended 2024 State of the Union Spotlight Vicious New Attacks on Abortion Access and Reproductive Freedom
WASHINGTON, DC –– Today, ahead of President Trump’s joint address to Congress, Senator Patty Murray (D-WA) and former Rep. Colin Allred joined Free & Just, patients, providers, and advocates who attended last year’s State of the Union as honored guests to set the record straight about how the Trump administration and extremists' efforts to ban abortion nationwide are putting lives at risk.
Abortion bans are killing women and devastating communities across the country. Still, the Trump administration and Republican officials remain committed to banning abortion nationwide, and they will use any tool at their disposal to do it – even though restricting abortion access remains widely unpopular with most Americans.
“It is painfully clear today that we have to continue shining a harsh spotlight on the impacts of abortion bans,” said Senator Patty Murray of Washington. “While Trump and Republicans would love for the chaos they are causing to push these stories out of the public eye, today there are even more women suffering and dying because of Republican’s extreme abortion bans. It may be the early days of this administration, but it is not too early to see that they are hellbent on ripping away women’s reproductive rights.”
“Within days of Trump taking office, he rescinded President Biden’s executive orders that protect reproductive health care, he wiped essential information about these health care services from government websites, and he nominated a slew of anti-abortion extremists,” said Kayla Smith, a patient storyteller who joined Senator Murray as an honored guest at the State of the Union one year ago. “I am here today to do my part. I will continue to speak out about what is going on and how important access to abortion care really is,” Smith, who was forced to flee the state of Idaho for lifesaving abortion care, is one of three plaintiffs in Adkins v. State of Idaho, a case challenging the state’s extreme abortion ban.
“The ‘state of the union’ has a crisis in the middle of it. Women all across this country are being denied basic health care, and families are being forced into impossible positions," said former Congressman Colin Allred from Dallas. “Here in Texas, it’s not uncommon to meet an expecting couple and congratulate them only to hear that they are worried that if something goes wrong with the pregnancy, they don’t know what they’ll do.”
“We knew that because of the abortion bans, IVF could be affected, but we never thought it would affect us,” said Latorya Beasley, a mother and IVF patient from Alabama who was forced to adjust her treatment timeline after the state’s Supreme Court’s devastating ruling on embryos. “Even today, Trump has said that he wants to expand access to IVF, but it’s just a lot of broken promises, and I don’t think there’s anything substantial behind that. I am here today to tell my story and warn others.”
“As a physician, my highest priority and my deepest honor is to take care of my patients. And I feel like that has been broken in so many ways and is only getting worse,” said Dr, Caitlin Bernard, an OB-GYN from Indiana who spoke publicly about providing abortion care to a 10 year old patient. “The question we have now is, what are we going to do about it? What are we going to do to reverse these policies now before things get worse? How many more people do we have to see on the news dying, taken away from their children and families?”
“Let me be clear, President Trump may claim he’s protecting women but all that his policies have done is harm us. He will undoubtedly continue to enact policies that will kill women and devastate families,” said Amanda Zurawski, who nearly lost her life after being denied abortion care in Texas. “While we are devastated, we will not be defeated. As long as these inhumane bans exist, we will continue to fight back.” Zurawski was the lead plaintiff in Zurawski v. State of Texas, the landmark lawsuit challenging Texas’ extreme abortion ban.
If you are interested in speaking with any of the participants in the press event, please contact kelly@freeandjust.us.
You can watch the virtual press event here, and learn more about how Republican officials are restricting reproductive freedom here.
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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.
ICYMI: Free & Just Hosts Press Call Marking One Month of Trump Presidency, Highlighting Statewide Abortion Bans and Impacted Storytellers
Watch the Full Press Event Here
WASHINGTON D.C. – Yesterday, Congresswoman Judy Chu (Ca-28) — Co-Chair and Liaison for the Reproductive Health Care Task Force for the Democratic Women’s Caucus — patient storytellers, healthcare providers, and advocates from communities across the country hosted a virtual press event one month after President Trump returned to the Oval Office to execute his anti-abortion agenda, as attacks on abortion access and reproductive freedom continue to escalate across the country. Additionally, the event launched PostRoeReality.com, the latest resource from Free & Just tracking attacks on abortion access and reproductive freedom across the country. Free & Just is also launching a five-figure digital buy in Georgia, Wisconsin, and Texas to uplift the research gathered in this latest resource.
Abortion bans hurt all of us – no matter where we live, and Free & Just is spotlighting what's at stake for communities across the country as the Trump administration seeks to roll back our rights even further.
In response to the new launching of PostRoeReality.com, Veronica Ingham, Senior Campaigns Director for Free & Just released the following statement:
“Now that anti-abortion extremists control the White House and Congress, it’s more important than ever that everyone understands what’s at stake when it comes to abortion access and reproductive freedom in this country. As we mark one month since President Trump’s return to office, we must continue to highlight the dangerous impact of the Supreme Court’s decision to overturn Roe and the resulting Post Roe world by uplifting narratives of storytellers directly impacted by abortion bans and calling out the continued attacks on reproductive freedom across the country. These findings highlight the groundwork laid by MAGA extremists to push their unpopular agenda across the country before moving to achieve their ultimate Project 2025 goal — a national federal abortion ban.”
Here are highlights from today’s event:
“While running for president, Donald Trump promised that he would leave the issue of abortion to the states. Once again, when it comes to women’s health, Donald Trump was lying,” said Congresswoman Judy Chu (CA-28), Democratic Women's Caucus Reproductive Health Care Task Force Co-Chair and Liaison. “Now more than ever, it’s important to amplify the stories of real people affected by these attacks and be clear about what’s at stake for communities across the country as the Trump administration seeks to roll back our rights even further.”
“As we’ve seen in the past thirty days, look at what Trump and his administration have done and are planning to do,” said Ryan Hamilton, whose wife was denied care in Texas. “It’s important for my daughter to have a future where she doesn’t bleed to death on her bathroom floor like her mom almost did.”
“These bans do not discriminate. They do not make allowances for the health of the mother or the baby. They assume a pregnancy is a blissful 9 months immune from complications and will always result in a living child,” said Gracie Ladd, a patient from Wisconsin who was forced to travel out-of-state for abortion care. “We need more storytellers. We need to amplify their voices. We need to protect their bodies and all future bodies.”
“It was the most agonizing decision I have ever had to make, and one that without question belonged to me and my doctors. Now, millions of women across the country no longer have that choice because of Donald Trump,” said Abby Klausner, a patient based in New York who had an abortion following her cancer diagnosis. “The right to make your own medical decisions, and the right to decide if and when to start a family – those rights are fundamental.”
“For so long I have naively thought of abortion as a singular issue – ‘it’s an individual’s decision.’ But that was my grave error – because abortion access has always been inexorably linked to the future of our democracy,” said Dr. Anusha Viswanathan, patient storyteller and health care provider based in Pennsylvania. “Because a country that can force someone to carry a pregnancy against their will is a country that can force them to do anything.”
“My state drove me out of my home, out of my community, away from my children, and away from my doctors, rather than let me access care,” said Kate Cox, who travelled out of state for care and was lead plaintiff in Cox v. Texas. “I’m just one person, we’re just one family, but our story is playing out in countless states across America. Because of these extreme abortion bans, women are going through the same nightmare I did.”
If you are interested in speaking with health care providers or patients about their experience living in a post Roe world, please contact kelly@freeandjust.us. If you are interested in learning more about the research gathered regarding state-level abortion bans, please contact malachi@freeandjust.us.
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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.
Shanette Williams, Mother of Amber Nicole Thurman Joins Patient Advocates and Health Care Providers to Spotlight How Abortion Bans Target Black Communities
WASHINGTON, DC – Today, Shanette Williams, whose daughter Amber Nicole Thurman lost her life as a result of Georgia’s abortion ban, patient storytellers, and health care providers from across the country joined Free & Just to spotlight how abortion bans disproportionately affect Black women and families. In the years since the Supreme Court’s 2022 decision to overturn Roe v. Wade, dozens of states have moved to ban abortion and restrict access to reproductive health care, with Black women bearing the heaviest burden of these attacks.
According to data from the National Partnership for Women & Families and In Our Own Voice: National Black Women’s Reproductive Justice Agenda, 57% of Black women ages 15 to 49 live in states with abortion bans or serious threats to abortion access.
The fall of Roe has also made pregnancy more dangerous, particularly for Black women. According to new data from the CDC's National Vital Statistics System, Black women are three times more likely to die from pregnancy complications than women from other racial and ethnic groups. The maternal mortality rate for every other race or ethnic group tracked in the report declined during the research period.
“Black maternal health is a crisis in this country. When it comes to reproductive health care — whether it's safe abortion care, prenatal care, or even just being listened to by a doctor — we are too often ignored, dismissed, and denied the care we need,” said Nancy Davis, an advocate from Louisiana who was forced to travel out-of-state to terminate a pregnancy after being denied care. “Black women deserve better, our voices matter, our lives matter, and we will not stop fighting until real change happens.” In 2022, Davis founded the Nancy Davis Foundation, which aids individuals who have endured trauma due to a prenatal developmental defect during pregnancy and advocates for reproductive justice.
“We’re putting lives at risk when we went to medical school to heal, not harm people. It makes sense that physicians are leaving places with abortion bans and restrictions because they cannot practice the full scope of the care they dedicated themselves to provide,” said Dr. DeShawn Taylor, an award-winning gynecologist and family planning specialist who owns the Desert Star Institute for Family Planning in Phoenix, Arizona. “Black women and babies have been most affected by adverse health outcomes in this country, but discrimination and lack of access to necessary health care has the potential to impact anyone.”
“I cannot tell you how devastating, heartbreaking, and painful losing my daughter has been – the remorse, the grief, has sometimes overwhelmed me,” said Shanette Williams, whose daughter Amber Nicole Thurman lost her life in Georgia after being denied medical care. “You have women and mothers that are going through trauma, that are going through grief because politics are stopping women from making choices about their bodies.” Shanette continues to share Amber’s story in hopes that no other family will endure the loss of a loved one to an abortion ban. In November, following reporting from ProPublica, officials in Georgia dismissed all members of the state’s Maternal Mortality Review Committee, which investigates the deaths of pregnant women across the state.
If you are interested in speaking with any of the participants in the press event, please contact kelly@freeandjust.us.
You can watch the virtual press event here, and learn more about how Republican officials plan to restrict reproductive freedom here.
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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.
Extremists in Congress Vote to Further Restrict Access to Abortion Across the Country, Criminalize Health Care Providers
For Immediate Release
January 23, 2025
Contact: Kelly Rimar kelly@freeandjust.us
While lawmakers peddle vicious lies, abortion bans are killing women across the country
WASHINGTON, DC –– This week, as we marked what would have been the 52nd anniversary of the landmark decision in Roe v. Wade, the new Republican majority in Congress moved quickly to further restrict access to abortion care across the country. On Wednesday, extremists in the U.S. Senate voted to advance legislation that would subject health care providers to harsh criminal penalties and force providers to violate their medical training – even when patients face life-threatening pregnancy complications. On Thursday, 217 lawmakers in the U.S. House passed identical legislation, rife with false claims and dangerous lies about abortion care. Just weeks into the 119th Congress, Republican lawmakers sent a clear message to the American people: Abortion and reproductive freedom are under attack.
Following the votes this week, Veronica Ingham, Senior Campaigns Director for Free & Just released the following statement:
“This week, extremist lawmakers in Congress confirmed that banning abortion nationwide and restricting access to reproductive health care is their top priority – even if it costs people their lives. Spreading disinformation about abortion care and the people who seek it is dangerous. These lawmakers are overstepping their role by trying to interfere in our personal, private, medical decisions, and they are hurting real people and families. One-size-fits-all laws don’t work and we know that most Americans, including many who support President Trump and Republican lawmakers, do not want to see our reproductive rights rolled back even further, and this effort to pass radical new restrictions is nothing short of a betrayal.”
If you are interested in speaking with health care providers like Dr. Dara Kass, or patients affected by attacks on abortion access and reproductive freedom, please contact kelly@freeandjust.us.
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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.
NEW DATA: Nearly 60% of Battleground Voters Oppose Abortion Restrictions, Including Trump Supporters
For Immediate Release
December 10, 2024
Contact: Kelly Rimar kelly@freeandjust.us
Success of Trump and Republicans in Congress should not be mistaken as support for further restrictions on abortion
WASHINGTON, DC – Today, new data from Navigator Research is shedding light on the role abortion played in the 2024 presidential election and in key Senate races across the country. The research, conducted among voters across the presidential battleground states, confirms that abortion is broadly popular with Americans, and makes clear that banning abortion, or using existing laws to further restrict abortion access nationwide are deeply unpopular positions – even among Trump voters.
According to the new research, nearly 60% of voters across the battleground support legal abortion including nearly 40% of those who voted for Trump and the Republican Senate candidate. These findings send a clear message to Trump and Republican lawmakers: Americans, including those responsible for their victories, will not tolerate further attacks on abortion access and reproductive freedom.
“This data confirms that abortion access and reproductive freedom are popular issues and supported by the majority of Americans,” said Veronica Ingham, Senior Campaigns Director for Free & Just. “Now more than ever, it’s critical that abortion storytellers share how abortion bans harm women and families across the country. We have to tell the truth about how attacks targeting everything from access to medication abortion to IVF treatment hurt families and upend lives. That is why Free & Just is committed to amplifying stories that counter misinformation and spotlight the real consequences of attacks on access to abortion and reproductive health care.”
The new research also reinforces the power of storytellers, whose courage in sharing their own experiences with abortion and reproductive health care helped educate and motivate voters in their communities. According to the new data, 52% of voters who supported state-level ballot initiatives to protect, restore, and expand abortion access said their decision to vote for these measures was impacted by women they know.
Storytelling is a powerful tool to help people across the country understand how attacks on abortion and access to reproductive care unravel lives, and put people in impossible, sometimes life-threatening situations. With new, increasingly vicious attacks on reproductive freedom on the horizon, it is more important than ever that we amplify the stories of people and communities affected by these attacks.
Patients, providers, and abortion rights advocates who spent the year working with Free & Just to share their stories and stand up to attacks on reproductive freedom released statements in response to the new research findings.
“Sharing my story was difficult at first, and it can be painful to relive the loss of my son Connor,” said Gracie Ladd, an oncology nurse from Nashotah, Wisconsin who was forced to travel out of state for abortion care after receiving a devastating fetal diagnosis at 20-weeks pregnant. “Still, I knew it was important to talk about what I went through and to spotlight the sweeping and devastating impacts of attacks on abortion. Every time I share my story, I am honoring Connor and helping people think differently about abortion. I know that there is a lot of work ahead, but I believe in the power of storytelling and I will continue to help others understand how dangerous attacks on reproductive freedom are.”
Gracie shared her abortion story publicly for the first time as part of Free & Just’s Ride to Decide Bus Tour for reproductive freedom over the summer. In September, Gracie testified about her experience traveling out-of-state for abortion care before the House Democratic Steering and Policy Committee.
“I have found my home in the abortion care community, and I am incredibly proud to work with so many brave patients, providers, and advocates,” said Suki O, an ultrasound technician in the Atlanta area, who has spoken publicly about her work to help patients navigate Georgia’s 6-week abortion ban. “I am heartbroken, but I know that this community will continue to support each other and work together to show just how dangerous attacks on access to abortion are.”
Suki joined Gracie Ladd at the September hearing before the House Democratic Steering and Policy Committee, where she mourned the deaths of Amber Thurman and Candi Miller, who lost their lives as a result of Georgia’s harsh abortion ban.
“I’ve spent the last month grieving and doing my best to prepare for what’s to come as anti-abortion extremists look for new ways to attack abortion access and reproductive freedom,” said Emma Burns from Flagstaff, Arizona who navigated a provider shortage, mandatory waiting periods, and other barriers when she needed abortion care as a college student. “At the same time, I know that sharing my abortion story has helped people in my community understand the harms of these attacks, and I am hopeful that we can continue to educate and engage people who don’t see themselves in this issue.”
In October, Burns graciously lent her story to Free & Just for the development of the “Road After Roe,” an Oregon Trail-inspired experience that challenges users to navigate the real-life, and often dangerous barriers to abortion and reproductive care.
If you are interested in speaking with the pollsters who led this research, patients and advocates who shared their experiences throughout this election cycle, or experts about what’s at stake for abortion access and reproductive freedom in 2025, please contact kelly@freeandjust.us.
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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 futures.
Patients and Providers from Wisconsin and Georgia Spotlight Harms of Abortion Bans and Attacks on Reproductive Freedom at Congressional Hearing on Project 2025
WASHINGTON, DC – Yesterday, two women whose lives have been upended by attacks on abortion access and reproductive freedom traveled to Washington to share their stories with the House Democratic Steering and Policy Committee at a hearing on Project 2025 and what’s at stake for communities across the country.
Project 2025 lays bare what conservatives and extremists plan to do next on abortion and reproductive freedom. These plans include using federal power to ban abortion nationwide and restrict access to contraception, reversing FDA approval of the abortion pill mifepristone, which is used in about half of US abortions, requiring states where abortion access is legally protected to report when patients travel from out of state for care, and prohibiting “embryonic research” which could put access to IVF treatment at risk.
At the hearing, Gracie Ladd, an oncology nurse from Nashotah, Wisconsin shared how she was forced to travel out of state for abortion care earlier this year when she learned that her son, Connor, was developing without a bladder or functioning kidneys, and had several serious heart defects that meant he would not survive more than a few minutes if she carried the pregnancy to term. Out of love and compassion for their son, Gracie and her husband chose to terminate the pregnancy, sparing Connor suffering.
Gracie described feeling angry that attacks on access to abortion in Wisconsin meant she had to travel out of state for medical care, and frustrated that lawmakers who would never know her or understand her situation had so much power over her experience.
“I’m angry that I had to drive to Chicago for care with a medical team I had never met, for a procedure that took two days and was quite literally the worst two days of my life. I’m angry that although I could take the time off of work, could find childcare for my living son, and afford to make the drive to another state, not all women can. But mostly, I’m angry that people who weren’t in that ultrasound room with me while I received the news that tore my world apart get to decide whether or not the medical choice on how to best move forward is not mine to make.”
Gracie also warned that if anti-abortion extremists get their way, people like her would have an even harder time accessing the care they need.
“Today I’m here to share that I’m angry because if Republicans get their way and pass Project 2025’s national abortion ban, I wouldn’t have even had the freedom to leave my state for the health care that is my right to receive.”
Suki O, an ultrasound technician in the Atlanta area who helps people seeking abortion care described finding “her home” in the abortion care community, but grew emotional when discussing the deaths of fellow Georgia women Amber Thurman and Candi Miller, who lost their lives as a result of the state’s harsh abortion ban.
“Amber's death hit me hard as she was a part of my community. A community that I've called home for 22 years. She died in a hospital where I've worked and a place where I watched my grandson be born. If these bans hadn't been put in place I might have been the person to perform Amber or Candi’s ultrasound. I might have been able to make them smile, give them a hug or listen to them tell me thank you. How many more Black women have to die or have died as a result of abortion bans?”
Suki shared that in her role as an ultrasound technician, she wears many hats and often finds herself comforting patients who have received devastating news about their pregnancy and are faced with few “options” thanks to Georgia’s restrictive abortion laws.
“I'm tired of seeing women being forced to travel out of state to have an abortion. I'm tired of wiping away tears after being forced to tell women they are too far along under Georgia’s abortion ban. These women deserve to have autonomy over their bodies to make decisions that are best for them.”
If you are interested in speaking with Gracie Ladd or Suki O. about their testimony, their experiences, or what’s at stake for abortion access and reproductive freedom, please contact kelly@freeandjust.us.
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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.
Extremist Lawmakers Block Legislation to Protect Access to IVF Treatment…Again
One week after Trump claims to be a “leader on IVF,” Vance and anti-abortion extremists block legislation to expand access to IVF treatment
WASHINGTON, DC –– Today, anti-abortion extremists in the Senate blocked the Right to IVF Act, legislation that would protect access to IVF treatment and make the procedure more affordable for families across the country. Conservative lawmakers claim to support IVF, yet every time they have an opportunity to protect and expand access to treatment, they vote against it. Over the summer, extremists in the Senate voted three times to block the Right to IVF Act, and attacks on access to reproductive health care continue to escalate. Today’s vote comes just one week after Donald Trump boldly claimed to be a “leader on IVF,” despite making IVF treatment less accessible as president, and openly embracing anti-IVF leaders.
Millions of people across the country rely on IVF treatment to build strong, healthy families. A third of Americans say they know someone who has used IVF to help their family have a baby (32 percent), and recent polling shows 4 in 5 Americans believe IVF should be legal.
Following today’s vote, Veronica Ingham, Senior Campaigns Director for Free & Just released the following statement:
“Anti-abortion extremists like Senator JD Vance want it both ways – they want to continue attacking access to reproductive health care, while claiming that they support access to IVF treatment. It doesn’t work that way. The Supreme Court’s decision to overturn Roe v. Wade jeopardized access to all types of reproductive health care, including IVF, and extremists have proven time and again that they are not serious about supporting families going through fertility treatment. It’s more important than ever that we spotlight the real-life impacts of these attacks and tell the truth about what's at stake for families across the country.”
If you are interested in speaking with IVF patient storytellers, health care providers specializing in fertility treatments, or families impacted by ongoing attacks on access to IVF treatment, please contact kelly@freeandjust.us.
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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.