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is jailed for the outcome of their pregnancy.
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Dear friend,
Black women are already being punished under abortion bans. We're ramping up our fight against criminalization and we need your support.
Just a few weeks ago in Alabama, Marshae Jones, a 27-year-old Black mother, was shot five times in the stomach killing her unborn fetus. She was the one who was violently attacked yet an Alabama grand jury indicted her with manslaughter charges--under the flawed logic that because she engaged in the argument, she is responsible. It makes absolutely no sense and shows just how far the anti-abortion punishment will go.
Right now, the Tennessee state legislature is considering a bill that will completely ban abortion.1 And if passed, Tenessee will become yet another state where vital access to reproductive care for pregnant people is restricted, and where any pregnancy outcome can be criminalized. We can't afford to see more women like Marshae Jones incarcerated. That's why we're building out a movement demanding prosecutors to use their discretion and refuse to criminalize pregnancy.
After news about Marshae Jones' arrest made national deadlines, we got to work pressuring local District Attorney Lynneice Washington to ensure Marshae was not prosecuted. Within 24 hours local organizers posted Marshae's bail and DA Washington made the decision to dismiss the ridiculous charges -- allowing Marshae to narrowly escape this nightmare.
DAs have the power to remove the fear that an abortion, miscarriage, or stillbirth could result in a prison sentence. Will you support our work to hold them accountable across the country ?
There are at least 10 states that have considered or are currently considering laws that would restrict access to abortion and other forms of vital reproductive care.2 We can’t afford for prosecutors to remain silent. That is why we are organizing local campaigns urging them to make real commitments that would make sure no one is prosecuted for abortion, miscarriage, stillbirth or any other pregnancy outcome. And there's already momentum -- at least 50 elected prosecutors have said they won't prosecute abortion--including district attorneys in Alabama, Georgia, and Ohio, but there are still at least 38 states where plans to target pregnant people are either on the books or moving through state legislatures. These are the places where Black women especially are at heightened risk.
We have so much more work to do and every ounce of support makes a huge difference. Every dollar contributed would help us :
- Hold rallies & petition deliveries at dozens of prosecutors across the country
- Hire an organizer to help us take this project to scale locally
- Run campaigns in defense of women and doctors who are jailed for pregnancy outcomes
Marshae's story shows us why we must center Black cis and trans women, trans men, and gender non-conforming folks in the fight for reproductive freedom. The fear of imprisonment has and will continue to force pregnant people to avoid healthcare at the time they most need it, whether they want to end a pregnancy or are simply having complications with one. With the highest maternal and infant mortality rates in the country, Black communities are already in a maternal health crisis. Simply put, anti-abortion law enforcement is dangerous, and we can't afford to sit on the sidelines.
Until justice is real,
Clarise, Rashad, Arisha, Scott, Erika, Marybeth, Marena, Leonard, Madison, Tamar and the rest of the Color Of Change team
Reference :
1. "Tennessee Republicans Aren’t Done Trying to End Most Legal Abortion." Rewire News. https://act.colorofchange.org/go/157258?t=10&akid=35268%2E1942551%2EU3TyPE
2. "Early Abortion Bans : Which States Have Passed Them ?" NPR. https://act.colorofchange.org/go/151122?t=12&akid=35268%2E1942551%2EU3TyPE
Color Of Change is building a movement to elevate the voices of Black folks and our allies, and win real social and political change. Help keep our movement strong.
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