Last week, on February 20th, the 5th Circuit Court of Appeals upheld the lower court’s decision temporarily blocking Mississippi’s 6-week abortion ban, supporting the constitutional right to legal abortion twice in two months.  Once again, we thank the Center for Reproductive Rights for their tireless efforts to secure our rights. Without their work, Jackson Women’s Health Organization wouldn’t be available for patients here in Mississippi.

Next week, on March 4th, Julie Rikelman and Travis Tu of the Center for Reproductive Rights will argue June Medical Services vs. Russo at the U.S Supreme Court, an important case for abortion access. We Engage will have representatives join with other groups like Abortion Access Front and Feminist Flag Corp at their MyDecisionMyRight Rally to show our support of their work and the right to safe, legal abortion.

In order to have a voice in decisions being made, “we, the pro-choice people” must show up where those decisions are being made and be visible, be vocal – publicly.

The anti-choice side has been public and vocal in numbers for far too long. See the annual “March for Life” and “40 Days for Life”, etc. And their narrative of abortion shame and stigma has unfortunately permeated our culture to the point that even some pro-choice supporters can’t say the “A” word – “abortion” and pro-choice people are ashamed even to speak up when they hear the blatant lies about women, pregnant people and the misinformation of the anti-abortion propaganda machine.

Because abortion.

No shame, no stigma – abortion is healthcare, abortion is a right.

We the pro-choice people have to show up, be heard, be seen if we believe the right to safe, legal abortion is a right worth having. Speak now, because pretty soon we may not have that chance, that choice.

Lawmakers need to know pro-choice people donate; pro-choice people vote. The anti-abortion evangelical fundamentalists are showing up at state capitols and in Washington DC every day en masse to demand laws be passed for them.

Are we?