Statement on Reproductive Choice: Building the World We Seek
Last week’s decision by the US Supreme Court to strike down Roe vs. Wade is not only an assault on the fundamental rights of Americans but will also have a devastating impact on survivors of domestic and sexual violence across our country. Domestic and sexual violence are, at their core, violations of survivors’ autonomy. Reproductive choice is an essential exercise of autonomy that all survivors deserve. Access to abortion care and birth control are critical to survivors’ health and safety.
Restrictions to abortion services and birth control disproportionately harm pregnant people who are Black and brown, LGBTQ people, and low-income communities. Abortion bans, like the Mississippi law that was the subject of the court’s decision last week, are expressions of intertwined systems of oppression that are rooted in racism and white supremacy.
Where do we go from here? In every moment, we have the opportunity to help create the world we seek. Organizing and resourcing for reproductive justice has existed long before last week’s decision. We will use our grief, anger and despair to recommit to the interconnected work of advancing racial and reproductive justice.
Here at home, we have been proud supporters of the legislative efforts to advance an amendment to our state constitution in order to enshrine the right to reproductive liberty. On a federal level, we stand with allies across the country in calling on Congress to pass a federal law protecting abortion access from bans and restrictions nationwide.
We will dedicate our own people power and resources to supporting the work of reproductive justice organizations. We invite you to join us by donating to Vermont Access to Reproductive Freedom and the National Network of Abortion Funds.