2022 in review – looking back, looking forward.

Looking back…2022 was a lot y’all.

From beginning to end, in 2022, We Engage and the Pink House Defenders kept showing people what abortion access looks like in MS and elsewhere. We Engage kept educating, working to destigmatize abortion and fight for our rights to bodily autonomy through social media and street signs we messaged the facts.  

In February, We Engage took a small crew to Nashville, TN to protest the Operation Save America (OSA) Leadership Meeting. We Engage showed up with messaging that supports patients and educates the public, countering their lies with truth and a smile. 

May brought visiting escorts from around the country to our clinic, Jackson Women’s Health Organization. We Engage hosted folks from Arkansas, North Carolina, Nebraska, Tennessee, and we discussed topics and tactics and shared some fun.  

Meanwhile, We Engage’s team of volunteers, the Pink House Defenders, NEVER STOPPED and walked with patients at Jackson Women’s Health Organization (JWHO) until the very end.

The Dobbs ruling ending the protections of Roe came down on June 24, and the last day for patients to access abortion in Mississippi was July 6. Never forget the end of Roe originated at our clinic – Jackson Women’s Health Organization. Remember the Pink House like you “Remember the Alamo.” When you see it written as “Dobbs v. Jackson”, remember it is actually “Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization.” Mississippi did this. Mississippi sued a clinic, our clinic, to end abortion access across the country. 

We Engage and the Pink House Defenders spoke with journalists from around the world during the past year so we could let people know the facts - that abortion is a human right, that abortion bans harm people, that abortion bans harm underserved communities, and that white Christian Nationalism is behind this harmful anti-abortion, anti-people activity.

After the heartbreaking closing of our clinic, we had just two weeks to get ready to bring Jezebel Rebellion to Nashville, TN.  With our “Jezebel Rebellion” event, We Engage brought together over 30 volunteers from around the country and protested the OSA National Event - A WEEKLONG EVENT y’all. While we were there, we documented trespassing by antis onto clinic grounds that helped get an injunction against the trespassers. We Engage and “the Jezebels” also were visible at busy intersections getting folks to “HONK FOR CHOICE” and around town, leaving drop cards, talking with people, and letting them know what the REAL is about OSA and abortion.

And we have been recovering ever since August. It was a lot. It still is.

One thing we DO know. Without YOUR generous support, we couldn’t have done as much as we did. All the signs, the snacks, the travel YOU made possible, and we thank you. Together, we can accomplish so much more! We would be honored to have your continued support. It’s going to take us ALL doing ALL the things!

You may wonder where we stand after the last year. Well, we’re still here. We Engage isn’t done, not as long as there is work left to do, not as long as people’s rights aren’t respected. We Engage still stands with patients EVERYWHERE, with clinic escorts and defenders, and we will still stand up to those who want to take rights from us ALL. We stand by what Fannie Lou Hamer said – “the changes we have to have in this country are going to be for liberation of all people — because nobody's free until everybody's free.”

After the New Year, we will talk a bit more about where we stand and what is to come. Happy and safe New Year y’all. See you in 2023.