Congressman Greg Landsman and Advocates Spotlight Harms of Abortion Bans and Demand Federal Action to Protect Reproductive Freedom at “Ride to Decide” Bus Tour Event in Cincinnati

Cincinnati, OH –– Today, Congressman Greg Landsman (OH-01) and local community leaders joined Free & Just’s “Ride to Decide” national bus tour in Cincinnati, the tour’s final stop before traveling to the Democratic National Convention in Chicago. The Ride to Decide bus tour comes as attacks on reproductive freedom escalate across the country, and has traveled nearly 9,000 miles and elevated the voices of over 100 storytellers with personal connections to abortion bans and reproductive freedom 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. 

Speaking about the Dobbs decision, Congressman Greg Landsman (OH-01) said “this is the first time in American history where a constitutional freedom was taken away from the American people.” Regarding his own family’s experience, Congressman Landsman shared that his wife has had two miscarriages, saying “in the middle of the night she lost so much blood in the bathroom that she fainted, hit her head, and that’s where I found her at 2am: unconscious and in a pool of blood. We went to the hospital immediately and we got medical care. That was years ago, and I’m pretty sure she would be turned away today.”

On the threat of a national abortion ban and the responsibility that Congress has to protect reproductive freedom nationwide, the Congressman said that “All over the country, citizen-led efforts are restoring these freedoms in their states, however it is on Congress to codify that freedom. I hope to be part of a U.S. congress that does just that. But there is a very real possibility that the opposite is true – that a U.S. Congress would ban all abortions, would take reproductive freedom away from every single woman and girl and their doctors. There wouldn’t be a corner in America where this freedom still existed.”

“There is often no one in the hospital more at risk of an acute event than a pregnant woman. Everything can be fine until it is not, and the time between there being options and no options can be short, unbearable, and catastrophic” said Dr. Nicole King, a critical care anesthesiologist who routinely sees some of the sickest pregnant women in the area. Speaking about abortion bans like the one in effect in Ohio before Issue 1 was passed, she said “That time in between is where we as physicians, midwives, nurses and other medical professionals know there are no words printed in black and white that can accurately describe the shades of gray we practice within. No abortion ban, even with exceptions, allows for the safety of all women and the freedom of practice by health professionals.”

“Before I joined the Free & Just team, I served as the Campaign Manager for Issue 1 in Ohio, the campaign that codified abortion rights in the state,” said Veronica Ingham, Senior Campaign Director for Free & Just. “Since Issue 1 passed, anti-abortion lawmakers have spent the last year in Ohio ignoring the will of the people. They’re trying to change the rules, manipulate the system, and abuse their authority to try and stack the deck against us and prevent women from getting care.” Speaking about the threat of a national abortion ban, Ingham said “they have made it clear time and time again they will stop at nothing to pass a national abortion ban, ignoring the will of the people and banning abortion across the country. That’s why we need to protect abortion on not just the state level – but the federal level.”

The “Ride to Decide” tour is headed to the Democratic National Convention in Chicago, IL next, where advocates 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.

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

HHS Director of Office for Civil Rights, Doctors, and Students Spotlight Harms of Abortion Bans and Demand Federal Action to Protect Reproductive Freedom at Ride to Decide Bus Tour Event in Cleveland

Cleveland, OH –– Today, the Director for Office for Civil Rights Melanie Fontes Rainer joined doctors and students at Free & Just’s “Ride to Decide” national bus tour in Cleveland 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, the Director, health care providers, and community leaders shared how attacks on reproductive freedom harm women and families in Ohio and across the country.

“After lots of infertility treatments I became pregnant with twins, and I suffered a miscarriage and I had a DNC which is an abortion. To some it’s miscarriage management, call it whatever you want, it’s healthcare” said Melanie Fontes Rainer, the Director for the Office for Civil Rights at the Department of Health and Human Services. Fontes Rainer went on to describe that she was able to receive the standard of care that every single person across the country should receive and now cannot because of the Dobbs decision. Following two physicians at the event who described fearing prosecution while Ohio had a near-total abortion ban in place, Fontes Rainer highlighted the Biden-Harris Administration’s ongoing efforts to protect reproductive freedom and shared that “During that time, I was working on a rule that the Biden-Harris Administration has since put out to protect your privacy. That means law enforcement and other actors cannot just target your medical records to see what kind of healthcare you’re getting and target you and your provider for criminal, administrative, or civil liabilities. They can’t go after your doctors to threaten them.”

“Every single day there are extremist politicians who think that they know what my patients need better than my patients themselves, and who think that they know medicine and medical care better than I do,” said Dr. Maria Phillis, an OBGYN in Cleveland. She went on to highlight how difficult it is for providers to practice under abortion bans, sharing that “In Ohio, we know all too well the effects of a near total abortion ban because for about three months, we practiced with a near total abortion ban. We practiced while looking over our shoulders, trying to make sure that we saved our patients’ lives, that somebody wasn’t going to question it, send us to court, prosecute us, charge us with a felony, make us lose our license. We ended up turning away patients who had lethal fetal anomalies, who had complications serious enough to warrant an abortion under these bizarre standards that are set by these extremists who don’t really understand medical decision making or health care.”

“Prior to issue 1, abortion bans had affected young people both at my college and in Ohio because students did not feel safe and protected with attacks against their reproductive freedom and their right to reproductive and sexual health care,” said Ashley Grant, representing Planned Parenthood Generation Action Chapter at Case Western University. Speaking about how critical it is that young people are aware of resources that are available to them as attacks on our reproductive freedoms escalate, Ashley said “education and awareness of resources for students is powerful. We can and will make a change as young people not only in Ohio but nationwide” 

“I went into medicine knowing I wanted to take care of people, I really wanted to empower women through their health and share in the relationship only doctors and patients do,” said Dr. Tani Malhotra, a maternal fetal medicine specialist. “51 years ago, the Supreme Court of the United States affirmed that decisions about abortion belong to patients and their doctors. The Dobbs decision took that away from me and from patients.” Speaking about who decides how much risk is worth taking in a pregnancy, Dr. Malhotra went on to say that “risk calculation belongs to the patient. Not only risk, but the decision to have a child, to grow a family – all those decisions belong to the people who are pregnant themselves. We have to trust women to make the best decisions for themselves and their families. The Dobbs decision took away personal, life affirming decisions from patients and gave it to lawmakers who have never had to sit with patients and share in the worst moments of people’s lives”

The “Ride to Decide” tour is headed to Cincinnati, Ohio next, where local storytellers and Congressman Greg Landsman 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.

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

Student Leaders and Patient Storytellers Demand Action to Protect Reproductive Freedom at “Ride to Decide” National Bus Tour Event On Ohio State Campus as Students Move In

COLUMBUS, OH–– Today, Free & Just’s “Ride to Decide” national bus tour arrived on campus at Ohio State University 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, student leaders and patient storytellers shared how attacks on reproductive freedom harm women and families in Ohio and across the country.

“When the Dobbs decision first came out, I talked to doctors, patients, parents and legal advocates across the country, and there was a general sentiment of chaos and fear at the lack of health care,” Melanie Fontes Rainer, the Director for Office for Civil Rights at the Department of Health and Human Services. “We know that in Ohio, despite anti-abortion extremists’ efforts, the right to abortion is enshrined in the state constitution. But we know that's not the case for women across the country and for a lot of women, especially women that have to travel here and other places, it's very difficult to access health care.” Fontes Rainer also highlighted the Biden administration’s ongoing efforts to expand access to reproductive health care.  

“As we continue our fight for reproductive justice, it's essential that we listen to those most impacted. We must acknowledge survivors of sexual violence and understand their unique relationship to reproductive justice,” said Tate Madison, who serves as President of Sexual Assault Prevention & Support (SAPS) at Ohio State University. “It is our responsibility to ensure everyone has full autonomy over their bodies and be able to make decisions on their reproductive health free from violence, coercion and fear, to work for the future where everyone has the power and resources to make the best decisions for themselves and their families.”

“Just this morning, there was a hearing in Franklin County Court about the 24 hour waiting period that requires every patient in Ohio to wait at least 24 hours and have two separate appointments to access care,” said Sam Woodring, who leads communications for the Abortion Fund of Ohio. Woodring reminded the audience that help is available to those who are struggling to afford abortion care, and encouraged Ohio State students to share information about local abortion funds with their friends and folks on campus.

“These attacks threaten not only our reproductive rights, but also our access to medical care and the medication necessary for us to live healthy and happy lives,” said Laila Ritter, the head of Marketing & Communications at Sexual Assault Prevention & Support (SAPS), who shared that she was diagnosed with PCOS as a teenager, and relies on hormonal birth control to manage the otherwise debilitating condition. “They are not only trying to take away our right to choose, but also our right to health and medical intervention. As human beings, we all deserve the right to treat our illnesses and our health issues, and those rights should not be limited due to the government's desire to control our bodies and our choices.”

“Anti-abortion extremists didn't stop at reversing Roe v Wade, they are targeting critical aspects of reproductive health care, including access to IVF, access to medication abortion, and critical contraceptive options. These aren't just abstract issues. These are tangible consequences for families like mine, who may rely on services like these to build their families,” said Dr. Lis Regula, an Advocacy Associate with Men Having Babies. “As a trans man, I know firsthand how reproductive justice intersects with the fight for LGBTQ rights. The same extremists who seek to control others’ bodies are often the ones pushing anti-trans legislation and trying to roll back the hard-won rights of LGBTQ individuals.”

“Black birthing people are more likely to suffer from inadequate care, contributing to a higher risk of maternal mortality,” said Jules Dunlap, who serves as Black Student Engagement Chair of Sexual Assault Prevention & Support (SAPS). Dunlap shared her mother’s dangerous and traumatizing birth experience, and demanded action to ensure access to quality reproductive care for all Ohioans. “We must both engage with policymakers and push reform to ensure ethical care for all.”

The “Ride to Decide” tour is headed to Cleveland, Ohio 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.

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.