Jan Robinson Flint, Statement on SCOTUS Roe V Wade Decision
Black Women for Wellness is sad though not at all surprised by the ruling today. In real time we see a country that has more protections for guns than it does our children, that refuses to dig deep to address racism, that has rolled back the rights of birthing folks, that is killing our planet and ignoring the working and poor people of this country, we are not defeated.
Our work is long-term, it is big and it is bold, and so is our determination.
The need for abortion does not disappear when access to abortion is denied, it goes underground. Safe and affordable abortion for working class and poor women will become much more difficult.
Black Women for Wellness / Black Women for Wellness Action Project is working with partners, allies and our state California to provide a safe space for those in need of abortion services. BWW knows that abortion is a basic human right, it affords people who can become pregnant the dignity of bodily autonomy.
Although many of us knew this decision was coming, it doesn’t take away from the sting and betrayal of seeing the final decision. Today the court stripped away the right of millions of women and birthing people to have safe and legal abortions, shifting that back to the states.
Over 26 states are positioned for near to total bans of abortions, with several of them starting today. But it can not be overstated what this means for Black women. What we know is this, Black women are going to die trying to get an abortion, Black women are going to die because they couldn’t get an abortion, and Black families are going to suffer because the fundamental right to choose if, when and how to start family will not be so in over half of the States in the Country. We know that the criminalization of Black bodies, and particularly in this case, Black women around pregnancy loss will be devastating.
This ruling impacts not only access to abortion, but to reproductive health services overall, but SCOTUS knows that, as this 50 year march has never been about improving health services, it is focusing on imposing the rule of the few, denying basic human rights and dignity. This SCOTUS decision undermines the legitimacy of the court, this arm of government as a representative of the people. The majority of people support access to abortion as a basic human right.
Our call to action, today breathe, this is a battle, not the war. Just as the need for abortion is not going away, abortion is not going away. There are people, organizations, health care providers who are aware and prepared to be of service. Tomorrow, talk with your people, friends, family to emphasize abortion is a basic human right and we are not giving up our basic human rights. Period. Then join the protest, the action taking place near you. Finding solidarity with people is empowering, this decision today is impactful acknowledge that, embrace the sadness, the anger, however join with your people so it channels into productivity.
We have work to do!
This ruling means that Black bodies which have always been more policed, will be even more policed. Repercussions of this ruling means that Black bodies will be more policed, criminalized and denied basic human rights from health care to voting as a result. Today’s decision will have rippling impacts, however we have the opportunity to shift those impacts toward a future that is promising. It is our hope, more eyes are open to the impacts of racism and misogyny, that more are called to action for work that dismantles systemic racism, that eradicates poverty, that lifts human rights and dignity for all. It is absolutely necessary because unless we are all free, no one is free. The SCOTUS ruling is a call to join the movements for human rights, reproductive and social justice.
They will be dark days in our near future, but Black Women for Wellness and Black Women for Wellness Action project is standing shoulder to shoulder with the reproductive justice movement because we know when we can’t back down, our lives our on the line and too much is at stake.
Today we mourn, we get angry we hug, tonight we rally. Tomorrow we strategize and we continue to fight for a country that our ancestors dreamed of. We honor the Black women who never gave up, even though they had every reason to do so.
Black Women for Wellness will continue the critical work for reproductive justice that includes access to affordable, safe, legal abortions, for all women, no matter where they live, who they are, or how much money they have or do not have.
