Reactions To Abortion Law Changes: Stories And Struggles

Abortion laws have been a contentious issue in the United States for decades, with public opinion and legislation shifting back and forth. In the wake of the recent Supreme Court decision to overturn Roe v. Wade, a 1973 ruling that established a federal right to abortion, people across the nation have been left reeling. While some states have moved to protect abortion access, others have swiftly enacted strict abortion bans, leaving many Americans concerned about their reproductive rights and unsure of what the future holds.

People protested for the right to abortion

People have protested for the right to abortion all over the world, from Paris to Washington DC, and from Colombia to Poland. In the US, abortion laws vary from state to state, and the issue is a divisive one in politics and culture wars. However, a majority of Americans support access to abortion.

In 2024, Amnesty International USA protested for the right to abortion near the Supreme Court in Washington DC. In May 2022, the Supreme Court leaked a draft opinion that suggested it was poised to strike down Roe v. Wade, a 1973 decision that established a federal right to abortion. This sparked protests across the country.

In Colombia, the 'Green Wave' or 'Marea Verde' is a feminist and human rights movement that has successfully fought to legalise abortion throughout Latin America. In Argentina, more than three years after abortion was legalised in 2020, there has been a notable decrease in maternal mortality.

In Poland, the Abortion Dream Team is a group of women's human rights defenders. In 2021, Texas passed a bounty law that provides a reward of at least $10,000 to anyone who successfully sues someone who "aids or abets" an abortion. This has led to a novel legal strategy of people reporting their friends, family members, and neighbours to the authorities. In response, abortion rights activists have created a network of border organisations that includes Red Necesito Abortar, Las Libres, and Marea Verde, which help women obtain abortion pills.

In 2022, six US states placed abortion-related initiatives on the ballot, and all of them were passed. These included enshrining the right to an abortion in state constitutions and rejecting restrictions on abortion.

People took legal action against abortion laws

In response to this, several states took legal action to protect abortion rights. For example, in 2022, California, Michigan, Vermont, and other states enshrined the right to abortion in their state constitutions. In April 2022, Colorado passed its Reproductive Health Equity Act, assuring abortion rights for all citizens of the state. In January 2023, Minnesota passed a bill guaranteeing women's rights to abortion and other reproductive medicine.

On the other hand, some states took legal action to restrict abortion rights. For instance, in May 2022, Oklahoma imposed a ban on elective abortions after Governor Kevin Stitt signed House Bill 4327. The bill bans elective abortion from the moment of conception. In June 2024, abortion in Iowa was made illegal after 6 weeks of gestation, with exceptions for rape, incest, foetal abnormalities, and the mother's life.

People travelled to other states to get an abortion

In the wake of the Supreme Court's decision to overturn Roe v. Wade, abortion laws in the United States have become a divisive issue. While some states have moved to protect abortion access, others have introduced trigger laws that effectively ban abortions. As a result, people have had to travel out of state to access abortion services.

In the first two years after abortion was legalised in New York in 1970, two-thirds of the abortions performed in the state were on patients who had travelled from other states. At the time, other states that had legalised abortion required patients to be state residents.

In 2022, a woman in Alabama was indicted after being shot in the stomach for intentionally causing the death of her unborn baby. The charges were later dropped.

In 2023, five women launched a class action lawsuit against the State of Texas after being denied abortions at a clinic, despite grave risks to their lives. Four of the women travelled out of state to obtain an abortion, while the fifth only received the abortion in Texas when she was hospitalised after the fetus suffered a premature rupture of membranes.

In June 2024, abortion in Iowa was made illegal after six weeks of gestation, with exceptions for rape, incest, foetal abnormalities, and the mother's life. This has resulted in people travelling to neighbouring states, such as Illinois, to access abortion services.

The cost of an abortion varies depending on factors such as location and facility. In 2022, a medication abortion cost about $580 at Planned Parenthood, though it could be more, up to around $800, in other facilities.

There are a variety of organisations that offer financial support for people seeking abortions, including travel and other expenses. These include Access Reproductive Care-Southeast (ARC Southeast), the Brigid Alliance, the Midwest Access Coalition (MAC), and the National Network of Abortion Funds.

People sought illegal abortions

In the wake of abortion bans, people have sought illegal abortions. In the US, abortion was criminalized in the late 1800s, and by 1910, it was outright illegal at every stage of pregnancy in every state. This led to a high death toll, with nearly 2,700 women dying from unsafe, illegal abortions in 1930.

In Texas, for example, abortion is banned with the exception of cases where the pregnancy is deemed to be particularly life-threatening. In response, people have started traveling to Mexico for abortions, where abortion is gradually being legalized at the state level. In some states, such as Alabama, abortion is a Class A felony punishable by imprisonment for at least 10 years up to 99 years or life. Despite these laws, abortions still occur, and in some cases, people travel out of state to obtain one.

In places where abortion is restricted, people are forced to resort to unsafe abortions. It is estimated that 25 million unsafe abortions take place every year, leading to fatal consequences such as maternal deaths and disabilities.

In some cases, people have obtained abortion pills through ordering from overseas online pharmacies, purchasing from pharmacies in Mexico, or through services such as Aid Access.

People were reported to the government for helping someone get an abortion

In some countries, people who help others get abortions are criminalised and can be reported to the government. In the US, for example, getting an abortion or helping someone get an abortion is illegal in some states, and there are laws in place to penalise those who assist others in seeking an abortion.

In Texas, a new law provides a reward of at least $10,000 to those who successfully sue someone who "aids or abets" abortion. This has resulted in people being reported to the state for assisting others in getting abortions. For instance, in one case, a man sued two of his ex-wife's friends for assisting her in getting an abortion. He alleged that they had "assisted [her] in murdering [her] unborn child" and sought at least $1 million in damages from each defendant.

In another instance, a woman's ex-husband learned about her plans to get an abortion and threatened to report her to the police. He also threatened to go to the police if she did not give him primary custody of their daughters.

These cases demonstrate how people have been reported to the government for helping someone get an abortion, often with severe consequences for those involved.

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