At “Ride to Decide” National Bus Tour Event in San Antonio, Councilwoman Cabello Havrda, Patients, and Local Advocates Spotlight Harms of Abortion Bans and Demand Federal Action to Protect Reproductive Freedom
SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS –– Today, Free & Just’s “Ride to Decide'' national bus tour stopped in San Antonio 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, youth activists, and community leaders shared how attacks on reproductive freedom harm women and families in Texas and across the country.
“We’re seeing abortion bans are being coupled with birth control bans, gender-affirming care bans, IVF bans, and even prenatal testing bans,” said DakotaRei Frausto, a college student and reproductive justice organizer from San Antonio who was forced to travel to New Mexico for abortion care at age 17 after Senate Bill 8 took effect in Texas. “The proposed legislation goes on-and-on. They were never going to stop at banning abortion.”
“Because of what the state of Texas is doing, our city has become the frontline of reproductive justice,” said Councilwoman Melissa Cabello Havrda, who represents District 6 on the San Antonio City Council. Councilwoman Cabello Havrda highlighted how the city is working to meet the needs of communities across San Antonio as attacks on access to reproductive health care escalate. “It’s about more than just abortion, these policies affect all of our communities for a lifetime.”
“The rights that we were promised as children are being taken away from us,” said Oli De Los Santos, a Communications Coordinator with San Marcos Abortion Activists, an organization dedicated to advocating for reproductive justice through direct action, community building, and mutual aid. Explaining why reproductive freedom is a priority for young people in Texas and across the country, De Los Santos added: “The rights we learned about are now gone. That is why so many young people are so motivated right now.”
“We’re already seeing reports of OBGYN students, who are graduating and looking at where to practice, and Texas is not on their list,” said Former Under Secretary of the Air Force Gina Ortiz Jones, a San Antonio resident, who highlighted how Texas’ extreme abortion ban is driving would-be providers away from communities where access to reproductive health care is already limited. “Frankly, the laws in Texas are making it impossible for providers to uphold their oath to ‘do no harm.’”
“We are focused on the rights we had and lost,” said Anissa Mancias, a Campus Organizer with Texas Rising, which aims to build the power of young people in communities across Texas. Mancias shared how difficult it is being a young person in Texas, watching as extremist lawmakers erode their freedoms. “We want to be heard, we want our rights back.”
The “Ride to Decide” tour is headed to Houston, Texas 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.
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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.