Millions of people across the country had their human rights revoked with the Supreme Court decision to overturn Roe v. Wade on Friday, June 24th. This decision has caused anger, despair, and an outpouring of painful emotions over the last five days. While this marks the first time that the Supreme Court has taken away a civil right, the United States has a history of denying human and civil rights and the battle for these rights, including bodily autonomy, predates the founding of this Nation.
While we must provide space for people to process emotions in response to this decision, we are obligated act. Right now, there are tens of thousands of pregnant women and birthing people who need immediate reproductive and abortion care. Those in already oppressed communities including people who face racism, LGBTQ+, people with disabilities, and people who live in poverty are most impacted by the fall of Roe. V Wade. The Code of Ethics demands that social workers engage in action to ensure the rights for all people as well as the self-determination of all people. Social workers must provide resources to and advocate for the rights of these communities with a renewed sense of urgency.
Eliminating the right to an abortion now puts other rights that are protected by the 14th amendment at risk, such as marriage equality, the right to private sexual conduct, and the right to contraception. The court has signaled it will not stop at abortion and is a threat to the liberty of all marginalized communities including people who face racism, LGBTQ+, immigrants, religious minorities, and people with disabilities. With the fall of bodily autonomy for pregnant people, all of these rights and communities are now at higher risk.
As the continued fight for reproductive and abortion rights rages with a new intensity, we must remember that we stand on the shoulders of giants who went before us fighting for racial, gender, sexual orientation, religious, immigration, and ability rights. Active support of the Civil Rights Movement is a requirement of social work practice, and we are responsible for maintaining and advancing the work of the activists, social workers, and ancestors who came before us. What actions are you taking?
Find a rally or protest: Be in community with others who are feeling fear, anger, or defiance in this moment. You are not alone; we are processing this trauma together.
NASW-NYS events to process, share resources, and connect social workers across the country:
- Member Meeting with Roe v. Wade Debriefing
- Membership not required
- June 30 at 12pm
- Click here to register
- The Fall of Roe v. Wade: Abortion & Reproductive Rights as Social Work Town Hall
- Membership not required
- July 7 at 6pm EST
- Click here to watch the recording
- Part 2: The Fall of Roe v. Wade: Abortion & Reproductive Rights as Social Work Town Hall
- Membership not required
- August 8 at 6pm EST
- Click here to register
Vote like your rights depends on it, because they do.
Registering yourself and others to vote is not enough. How can social workers generate voter mobilization? We must get people to the polls in November.
- Mobilization as Civic Engagement: A Call to Action
- July 20 at 6:00pm EST
- Click here to register
- Register to vote, learn what is on your ballot, and verify your voter registration: https://www.vote411.org/
- Textbanking: https://www.mobilize.us/mobilize/event/473001/
Resources for finding an abortion:
Resources for abortion pills:
Donate to an abortion fund, and financial assistance for an abortion:
- https://abortionfunds.org
- NAF Hotline: 800-772-9100
- Click here for abortion funds in every state
Donate to Black Feminist Leadership across the US
- https://secure.actblue.com/donate/bffforaccess
Resources for legal assistance:
Confronting Pregnancy Criminalization
Localized Resources
- San Antonio, TX: https://www.suenossinfronterastx.org/
- Arizona, Black Organizing Collective: https://blackphxoc.org/reproductive-birth-justice
Individual and Community Support (Therapy, Community Organizing & Empowerment)
- Black Women and Girls: https://www.kimbritive.com/
- Black Womxn and Girls: https://www.theafiyacenter.org/
- National Black Women’s Reproductive Justice: https://blackrj.org/
- Black Women for Wellness: https://bwwla.org/reproductive-justice/
- Abortion Access Front: https://www.aafront.org/what-we-do2/
Recommended Reading:
- Parable of the Sower by Octavia-Butler
- Parable of the Talents by Octavia-Butler
- https://www.bustle.com/p/if-you-loved-the-handmaids-tale-you-need-to-read-this-one-book-by-octavia-butler-8246120
Author: Amelia Lochner Malavé
NASW-NYS