White Nationalists' Anti-Abortion Agenda: A Sinister Strategy

White nationalists and anti-abortion movements have long been linked. In the US, the anti-abortion movement has been complicit with white supremacy. In recent years, the anti-abortion movement has attempted to distance itself from overtly racist and white nationalist groups, but racism and xenophobia have been woven into the movement throughout its history.

In the 19th century, anti-abortion laws were justified by the need to preserve whiteness. Today, white nationalists are flocking to the anti-abortion movement, seeing it as part of a broader project to ensure white hegemony. Groups like the Patriot Front, Aryan Nations, and the Traditionalist Worker Party have lent their support to the anti-abortion movement. They see stopping abortion as a way to conscript white women into reproduction and maintain white dominance.

The link between the anti-abortion movement and white supremacy is deep and fundamental. It is driven by Christian nationalism, which believes that God intended the US to be a fundamentally Christian nation and that abortion threatens American values. It is also fuelled by demographic anxieties about replacement – the racist conspiracy theory that white Americans are being replaced by people of colour.

The anti-abortion movement's embrace of white nationalism has dangerous consequences. It provides a gateway for mainstream abortion opponents to be drawn into far-right extremism and fuels violence against abortion providers and clinics.

White nationalists and anti-abortion movements are becoming increasingly aligned

The anti-abortion movement and white nationalists have always had a close relationship. However, in recent years, the two groups have become increasingly difficult to distinguish from one another. This is due to a number of factors, including the growing visibility of white supremacist groups within the anti-abortion movement, the shared tactics and personnel between the two groups, and the way that anti-abortion rhetoric is used to promote white nationalist ideologies.

Growing Visibility of White Supremacist Groups

The increasing alignment between white nationalists and the anti-abortion movement has become more apparent in recent years, with the presence of white supremacist groups at anti-abortion rallies and events. For example, the white nationalist group Patriot Front has attended the March for Life rally in Washington, DC, as well as other anti-abortion demonstrations across the country. Other white supremacist groups such as the Aryan Nations and the neo-Nazi Traditionalist Worker Party have also lent their support to the anti-abortion movement. The presence of these groups and their extremist ideologies at anti-abortion events has raised concerns about the growing influence of white nationalism within the movement.

Shared Tactics and Personnel

The two movements also share tactics and personnel. In the 1980s and 1990s, the Ku Klux Klan (KKK) began circulating "Wanted" posters with the personal information of abortion providers, a tactic that was later adopted by anti-abortion terrorist groups such as Operation Rescue. Today, sharing the names, photos, and addresses of abortion providers and clinic staff is standard practice within the anti-abortion movement, and stalking and doxxing of providers has become commonplace. This blurring of lines between the two movements is further evidenced by the presence of white nationalists within the leadership of anti-abortion groups. For example, in 2019, Kristen Hatten, a vice-president at the anti-choice group New Wave Feminists, was revealed to have shared racist content online and identified herself as an "ethnonationalist".

Anti-Abortion Rhetoric and White Nationalist Ideologies

The anti-abortion movement's rhetoric is often used to promote white nationalist ideologies, particularly the idea of the "Great Replacement", a racist conspiracy theory that claims that white Americans are being "replaced" by people of colour. This theory is used to justify policies that force childbirth among white women, severely restrict immigration, and punish women of colour through criminalisation and enforced poverty. By framing the abortion debate in these terms, the anti-abortion movement contributes to a broader project of ensuring white hegemony and the subordination of women.

A Long History

The link between the anti-abortion movement and white supremacy is not new. In the 19th century, concerns about maintaining "the reproductive capacity of Anglo-Saxon women" were used to justify criminalising abortion across US states. The modern anti-abortion movement that took shape in the 1990s built on this history, with the Ku Klux Klan hosting rallies to support anti-abortion activists and providers. The two movements have a long history of overlap and shared ideologies, and this relationship continues to evolve and strengthen.

The anti-abortion movement's links to xenophobia and racism

The anti-abortion movement has long been associated with xenophobia and racism, despite efforts to distance itself from these ideologies in recent years. This association is rooted in the belief that abortion is a tool for "race suicide" and the desire to preserve and increase the birth rate of white women. This idea was particularly prominent in the 19th century when white Anglo-Saxon Protestants feared being demographically overtaken by Catholic immigrants. Today, similar fears are reflected in the Great Replacement theory, which argues that white Americans are being "replaced" by people of colour.

The Ku Klux Klan (KKK) has historically been linked to anti-abortion activism, creating "Wanted" posters for abortion providers and even organising a rally in support of an abortion provider's killer. Other white supremacist groups, such as the Aryan Nations and the neo-Nazi Traditionalist Worker Party, have also lent their support to the anti-abortion movement. These groups see abortion restrictions as a means to ensure white hegemony and the subordination of women.

The anti-abortion movement has also been influenced by Christian nationalism, which believes that God intended the United States to be a fundamentally Christian nation. This ideology has served as a gateway for mainstream abortion opponents to embrace far-right extremism. Additionally, the movement has appropriated the language of social justice, equating embryos with women and comparing abortion to the Holocaust.

The overlap between anti-abortion activism and far-right extremism has led to an increase in violence, with clinics and providers becoming targets of bombings, arson, and assassinations. This violence is often encouraged and celebrated by far-right groups, who see it as a necessary tactic in their fight against abortion.

The consequences of these links are far-reaching, with real-world impacts on the lives and safety of abortion providers, as well as contributing to a broader culture of xenophobia and racism in society.

The role of Christian nationalism in anti-abortion activism

Christian nationalism has played a significant role in shaping anti-abortion activism in the United States. This influence can be traced back to the 1973 Supreme Court decision in Roe v. Wade, which legalized abortion and sparked a backlash from religious groups, particularly those espousing Christian nationalist ideologies.

Christian nationalism is a belief system that advocates for the United States to be governed as a Christian nation, with policies and laws reflecting their interpretation of Christian values. In the context of abortion, Christian nationalists often frame their opposition as a defence of the sanctity of life, arguing that life begins at conception and that abortion is equivalent to murder. This stance has been adopted by various Christian denominations, including the Catholic Church, Evangelical churches, and certain Protestant groups.

The anti-abortion movement in the US is diverse and comprises a variety of organizations, with no centralized decision-making body. Christian nationalist groups, however, have played a pivotal role in shaping the movement's trajectory. They have effectively utilized their religious networks and rhetoric to mobilize supporters and influence legislation. One notable example is the National Right to Life Committee, formed in 1967 by the United States Catholic Conference, which became a prominent force in the anti-abortion movement.

Christian nationalist leaders have also been adept at leveraging political alliances to advance their agenda. The alignment between Christian nationalism and the Republican Party is particularly noteworthy. Republican politicians have increasingly embraced anti-abortion stances, incorporating them into their platforms and policy proposals. This has resulted in a symbiotic relationship where Christian nationalists gain political influence, and Republican politicians attract a dedicated voter base.

In addition to political alliances, Christian nationalists have also employed various tactics to further their cause. They have organized mass demonstrations, such as the annual March for Life, and utilized graphic imagery and provocative language to sway public opinion. They have also engaged in more extreme actions, such as picketing, blocking clinic entrances, and, in some cases, resorting to violence and arson against abortion providers and clinics.

Furthermore, Christian nationalists have sought to shape public opinion by establishing crisis pregnancy centers and disseminating false or misleading medical information about the risks associated with abortion. These centers, often run by anti-abortion Christians, aim to dissuade pregnant women from considering abortion by providing inaccurate information and offering alternative services.

The influence of Christian nationalism in anti-abortion activism extends beyond the United States. The New Apostolic Reformation (NAR), a charismatic evangelical Christian movement, has gained traction globally. NAR adherents believe that God has chosen them to wage a spiritual battle for control of the United States and seek to Christianize all aspects of society, including government and public institutions. While NAR does not have a centralized leadership, its influence is significant, and its teachings have permeated various churches and communities.

In conclusion, Christian nationalism has played a pivotal role in shaping anti-abortion activism in the United States and beyond. Through political alliances, grassroots mobilization, and the dissemination of ideological rhetoric, Christian nationalists have exerted a disproportionate influence on abortion-related policies and public discourse. Their efforts have contributed to a highly polarized landscape where abortion remains one of the most contentious social issues.

The use of violence and intimidation by anti-abortion activists

The anti-abortion movement has employed various tactics to intimidate and harm those associated with abortion. One notable method has been the circulation of "'Wanted' posters featuring personal information and photographs of abortion providers, endangering their lives. This tactic was initially used by the Ku Klux Klan in the 1980s and later adopted by anti-abortion groups in the 1990s. Additionally, acts of violence, including vandalism, arson, and bombings, have been committed against abortion clinics. Since 1977, there have been at least 11 murders, 42 bombings, 196 arsons, and 491 assaults against abortion providers in the United States.

The issue of abortion has also been a rallying point for white nationalist and far-right extremist groups, who have increasingly aligned themselves with the anti-abortion movement. These groups see restricting abortion as a means to ensure white hegemony and the subordination of women. The presence of these extremist groups has further escalated the tension surrounding abortion and led to more violent incidents. For instance, the far-right Proud Boys group has provided "security" for anti-abortion events, and members of white nationalist groups like Patriot Front have attended anti-abortion rallies, causing concern about the growing overlap between anti-abortion activism and far-right extremism.

The anti-abortion movement has also been characterized by intimidation and harassment tactics. Sharing personal information and doxxing abortion providers and clinic staff has become a standard practice, and stalking and intimidation of providers have become routine. Additionally, anti-abortion activists have employed violent rhetoric and have escalated their actions, with a recent increase in violence against abortion providers and clinics.

The violence and intimidation tactics employed by anti-abortion activists have had a significant impact on the reproductive health care landscape in the United States. The fear and danger posed by these actions have affected the operations of clinics, the safety of providers and patients, and access to reproductive health care services.

The impact of anti-abortion laws on Black maternal mortality

The anti-abortion movement has a long history of overlap with white nationalist and white supremacist ideologies. This is due in part to the belief that abortion is a form of "eugenics" or "genocide" that threatens the "purity" of the white race. This idea is rooted in the 19th and early 20th centuries when an influx of immigrants from Asia, Latin America, and Eastern and Southern Europe led to fears among white Americans about the "falling white birth rate" and the need to enforce maternity among white Protestant women to prevent "race suicide".

As a result of this ideological overlap, anti-abortion activists have increasingly employed extreme tactics to further their agenda. This includes doxing and stalking abortion providers, as well as resorting to violence and arson, as seen in the case of the Knoxville Planned Parenthood clinic that was burned down on New Year's Eve.

Due to the disproportionate impact of anti-abortion laws on people of colour, these extreme tactics have a disproportionate impact on Black maternal mortality. Restrictive abortion laws create geographic, transportation, and financial barriers that disproportionately affect low-income people of colour and result in increased rates of maternal death, especially among Black birthing people. In addition, these laws further limit the already restricted access to health care and effective forms of contraception for Black individuals, exacerbating existing racial inequities in maternal and neonatal outcomes.

The Role of Education in Addressing the Impact of Anti-Abortion Laws

To address the impact of anti-abortion laws on Black maternal mortality, there is a need for increased abortion education and training for medical students and residents. This includes incorporating abortion as a core topic in medical school curricula and providing opportunities for clinical abortion care experience. By improving abortion education and training, future physicians will be better equipped to provide essential healthcare to individuals facing limited access to safe and legal abortions.

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