Lisa Cole

Reproductive Rights are Human Rights

This summer, I joined the Center for Reproductive Rights (CRR) Bay Area leadership council. CRR is the only global legal advocacy organization dedicated solely to reproductive rights. As you know, protecting a woman’s right to choose has been my top priority for a long time, and after doing a lot of research and thinking, I committed to CRR because this issue is ultimately going to be decided in the courts, and CRR is the legal organization tirelessly leading this fight. I had no idea when I joined the council in July just how devastatingly quickly this all would come to a head.

CRR has two cases in front of the Supreme Court this Fall. They will lead oral arguments on November 1 in Texas’s six-week abortion ban, S.B. 8 (a second case that day will be led by the United States Department of Justice),—and then the Center will be back at the Supreme Court on December 1 to challenge Mississippi’s 15- week abortion ban (Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization )—in which the state has asked the Court to overturn Roe v. Wade. 

If Roe were overturned, 24 states would likely take action to prohibit abortion outright, including 12 states that already have ‘trigger bans’- laws currently on the books that would automatically ban abortion in the state if Roe is overturned.

The attack is not slowing down—in 2021 more than 500 anti-abortion restrictions have been introduced in state legislatures, and more than 90 have been enacted, putting this year (which is almost over) on track to be the worst year for abortion access since Roe. 

I know we are all overwhelmed, shocked, and scared by these developments. It is hard to imagine a more significant moment for us to do everything we can to protect a woman’s right to choose.

CRR’s goal is to raise $5.4 million this fall to support these efforts. Please consider making a donation in any amount you can to help with this fight which takes a tremendous amount of resources.

I have already learned so much by connecting to CRR and its activities. If you are interested in learning more about the Center for Reproductive Rights and the work they are doing in the U.S. and around the globe, please let me know.

Much love,

Lisa