When bad stuff happens on the world stage, you might feel like a grain of sand being torn in and out by a ferocious and unending tide. Especially when it can feel so very personal, like Roe V. Wade being overturned. Especially when it concerns fundamental human rights. Sometimes you might feel like there’s nothing you can do to help at all.
But if you’re feeling this way, your head is lying to you. The good fight is always worth fighting. You can always make meaningful change. In regards to Roe V. Wade, there are protests you can attend, charities you can donate to, and details that you should understand. Here’s some practical info that you can action:
Attend a Solidarity Protest
Attending a Roe V. Wade protest has the potential to boost the morale of the Americans that are affected by the Supreme Court’s decision. It demonstrates that while their institutions might not have their backs, people across the globe do. Protesting also indicates to our federal and state governments that are own abortion laws aren’t to be trifled with.
If you want to attend a protest, here are the locations of some that have already been organised:
- Brisbane’s King George Square – July 1, 5:30 PM
- Adelaide’s Beehive Corner at Rundle Mall – July 1, 5:30 PM
- Hobart’s Salamanca Market – July 2, 11:00 AM
- Wollongong’s Crown Street Mall Amphitheatre – July 2, 12:00 PM
- Melbourne’s State Library Victoria – July 2, 12:00 PM
- Canberra’s Garema Place – July 2, 12:00 PM
- Sydney’s Sydney Town Hall – July 2, 1:00 PM
- Perth’s Murray Street and Forrest Place – July 2, 3:00 PM
Friendly reminder to everyone of you that attends one of these protests: Please bring a mask and some hand san. After all, we’re still in the middle of a pandemic.
If you want to learn more about what Roe V. Wade means before attending one of these protests, then here’s some more useful info: What the US Supreme Court Overturning Roe v. Wade Means for Abortion Rights
Additionally, if you want to know what your state or territory’s abortion laws are like, then here’s a resource for later: Roe V. Wade: What Are Australia’s Abortion Laws?
Donate Some of Your Cash
If you care about this issue and have the funds, you can always put your wallet where your mouth is. Because abortion rights are such a logistical nightmare in America, there are a ton of great and reliable charities that you can help out. However, because The Latch doesn’t want you to experience choice paralysis, here are three excellent charities that deserve your money:
Access Reproductive Care-Southeast is an excellent organisation that provides funding or logistical support to people in Alabama, Georgia, South Carolina, Florida, Mississippi, and Tennessee who need an abortion. According to Politico, abortions will become illegal in Mississippi and Tennessee incredibly soon. So this organisation definitely needs your help fighting this uphill battle.
On this place’s donation page it has noted, “We also engage in programs within our communities to bust abortion stigma and provide education in an effort to promote reproductive justice in the South. With your one-time or recurring donations, we can provide the resources and education to support Southerners and their families.”
Planned Parenthood’s mission is “to ensure all people have access to the care and resources they need to make informed decisions about their bodies, their lives, and their futures.” This includes making sure that abortions are safe and legal for anyone that needs this medical procedure.
According to its donation page, everyone’s contributions will be matched dollar for dollar. Moreover, there’s a total of $250,000 worth of matching up for grabs. This organisation stated, “Planned Parenthood will continue to do everything we can to protect abortion access. Make your tax-deductible gift today so we can continue to protect and provide care, no matter what.”
The Center for Reproductive Rights is a human rights organisation that works across the globe to make sure reproductive rights are enshrined in laws. Its knowledge of constitutional, international, and human rights law is used to impact a place’s legal policies. They also do a ton of advocacy work.
Its donation page has outlined, “The U.S Supreme Court has overturned Roe v. Wade. We must keep fighting until every person has the freedom to make their own decisions about their lives and futures… Please make a gift to the Center for Reproductive Rights to build, enforce, protect and defend legal protections for reproductive rights around the world.”
We Fight For Safe Access
Cutting access to abortions doesn’t decrease the amount of them. Doing so only decreases the amount of safe abortions that take place.
In 2022, VICE reported that the Four Thieves Vinegar Collective, an anarchist biohacking group, published a video on how to make abortion pills at home. This group claims that this concoction will create something that’s 85% effective at inducing an abortion.
Obviously, safe access to legal abortions is infinitely better than this option. As VICE wrote, “Motherboard cannot speak to the safety of making your own pills, and the Four Thieves Vinegar Collective has been criticised by some in the pharmaceutical and medical establishment who think that making DIY medicine isn’t safe under any circumstances.” This reporting demonstrates how dire the U.S’s situation is right now.
Fortunately, in Australia, our abortion laws are nowhere near as grim as what’s happening in America. We must continually fight to make sure that this remains the case.
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