Planned Parenthood is going to invest millions to protect reproductive rights in the age of Kavanaugh
Pro-choice advocates have been (justifiably) worried about the safety of reproductive rights ever since Brett Kavanaugh was nominated for an appointment to the Supreme Court. And now that Kavanaugh has been confirmed, the threat to a woman’s right to choose feels even more real. But Planned Parenthood has announced a new plan to combat that potential reality.
Today, October 10th, Planned Parenthood Action Fund announced a three-part plan to both protect and expand abortion access in the face of the Supreme Court’s newly conservative majority. Through the multi-million dollar plan, called Care for All, the organization has pledged to expand access to its care, fight for pro-choice legislation, and work to destigmatize abortion.
"Already women across this country have to access funding; they have to access transportation; they have to access housing; they have to access support networks," Planned Parenthood Executive Vice President Dawn Laguens told NPR. "That is gonna be a greater need if there are further restrictions when Roe is attacked by this court."
The organization explained in its overview of Care for All that it would expand care in states where abortion will likely remain legal—like California. It also detailed plans to provide telemedicine for people living in remote areas, as well as financial aid and transportation assistance for those who have to travel long distances to seek care.
As far as policy is concerned, Planned Parenthood pledged to advocate for policy changes in 10 key states where it hopes to establish regional networks. And to help destigmatize abortion, the organization noted that it would collaborate with TV and filmmakers, as well as continue to educate through its own resources and videos.
We refuse to let our country become a place where people can no longer access abortion. Today, we launched #CareForAll — a nationwide effort to ensure that abortion is still accessible no matter what happens at the Supreme Court.
Read more via @NPR: https://t.co/J5HpQLfoBr
— Planned Parenthood Action (@PPact) October 10, 2018
"There’s no way to sugarcoat it," Laguens wrote in a statement about the plan. "With Brett Kavanaugh on the Supreme Court, we will likely see the further erosion—and perhaps complete reversal—of Roe v. Wadesoon. But Planned Parenthood is not going to let this become a country where people can no longer access safe and legal abortion."
We mourn. We do what it takes to get through. We rage. We wake up and fight another day. We persist. #BelieveSurvivors pic.twitter.com/DBU5jrAD8I
— Planned Parenthood (@PPFA) October 6, 2018
Kavanaugh hasn’t outright said he would vote to repeal Roe v. Wade, but some of his actions have caused alarm among pro-choice activists. In an email from Kavanaugh’s days on the D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals, published by The New York Times in September, the judge noted that the Supreme Court “can always overrule its precedent” when discussing Roe v. Wade. And during his confirmation hearing, he incorrectly referred to certain contraceptives as “abortion-inducing drugs.”
We’re heartened to see Planned Parenthood stepping up to defend reproductive rights. The battle for the right to choose is far from over, and we will continue fighting—starting with the upcoming midterm elections on November 6th.
