As a community of women who are committed to “empowering each other, and elevating the value of the feminine and diversity in our culture”, we could not ignore the impact of Friday’s SCOTUS decision to overturn Roe v. Wade.
Like many of you, even though we knew it was coming, Friday was a tough day. We have young women in our community who feel a real sense of foreboding and despair about their future. Most of us are confused and angry that a right we thought was settled is not so settled. We are all wondering … what will come next?
All of this is very anxiety inducing. In this week’s members email we share a bunch of information and actions that can be taken.
The following are resources to both learn and understand more about this momentous decision AND actions you can take right now.
FIRST ... Get informed
Personally, I often go to my favorite Podcasts by the gang at Crooked Media to get the low down. They did not disappoint when they hosted an "Emergency Pod" featuring the women lawyers from Strict Scrutiny, a podcast about the United States Supreme Court and the legal culture that surrounds it. I found this both informative and funny, so that I could even bare to hear about it, as these women dissected the opinion and it's possible impacts.
Warning: These women are super smart, progressive politically and VERY irreverent.
Read both the Opinion and the Dissent for yourself. When looking to apply ones own critical thinking, something we always endorse, it is recommended that we read or listen to the original language for ourselves, unfiltered by commentary.
Here, we are providing, directly from the Supreme Court website, the three pieces that have the most world impact. The majority opinion that overturns the federal protections established by Roe v. Wade, the minority dissent that lays out the opposing opinion and we threw in the Clarence Thomas concurrence as it lays the groundwork for future privacy rights that he believes should be overturned in short order.
SECOND ... Take a Breath
Whenever something happening is upsetting or frustrating it is important to take the time you need to restore balance to your nervous system!
Check out our article on how to Reduce Anxiety Naturally by tending to the Vagus Nerve.
Play and Breath!!
THIRD ... Take Action
Mad About Roe? Here’s What to Do Now.
In this recent guest essay published in the NYT Robin Marty shared several ways to get be in action to support women and women's right to an abortion if they should choose one. We put the best bits below.
Ms. Marty is the director of operations at the West Alabama Women’s Center and the author of “The New Handbook for a Post-Roe America.”
To read the full essay CLICK HERE
Here are some things that army of people can do:
Spread the word about AidAccess.org, a group based in Austria that can mail the same abortion-inducing medication
Direct people who are seeking legal advice to the group If/When/How: Lawyering for Reproductive Justice.
People can also make sure others are aware of groups like the Miscarriage and Abortion Hotline, which has text and phone options for asking questions during and after a miscarriage or an abortion.
Abortion rights supporters also should protect family, friends and allies from surveillance with Digital Defense Fund’s online security guidance for phones and computers — especially if you’re doing anything that could be considered pushing legal boundaries.
A few other websites to keep at your fingertips: Reproaction provides a tool kit for organizing a protest of anti-abortion groups to prove that abortion rights supporters are just as vocal as the opponents.
Vote Save America - Abortion Bans Action Plans
The folks of Crooked Media put together a comprehensive list of all the kinds of actions, direct support to women seeking AND political action through their Vote Save America platform.
Warning - This site contains scatological language and progressive action plans.
