Top 7 Things You Can Do Right Now for U.S. Abortion Rights

On June 24, the U.S. Supreme Court issued a ruling overturning Roe v. Wade, taking away the constitutional right to abortion, and paving the way for states across the country to ban abortion outright. Half the U.S. states are expected take such action. 

Since the ruling in Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization, several states have already eliminated abortion access entirely—denying people access to essential health care. As states rush to enforce their extreme abortion bans, the Center for Reproductive Rights and its partners are fighting in the courts to block them and preserve care.

Here are 7 things you can do today to help people seeking care and to protect abortion rights: 

1. Donate to abortion funds.

Abortion funds directly support people seeking abortion care—including financial and practical support like transportation, lodging and language translation—and are a critical part of ensuring abortion access. 

2. Donate to independent abortion clinics at Keep Our Clinics.

Small, community-based clinics provide the majority of abortion care in the U.S. and are more likely to be located in states hostile to abortion rights. When clinics close, entire communities lose access to abortion and other essential reproductive and sexual health services. 

3. Show up and protest.

Attend a rally or event near you—and make your voice heard. Events supporting abortion access are continuing across the U.S.—visit the We Won’t Go Back map and find one near you. 

4. Speak up and activate your network.

5. Learn more about abortion laws in your state.

Click through the Center’s “After Roe Fell: Abortion Laws by State” interactive map and tool to learn about the laws in your state and all other U.S. states—including which states have already made abortion illegal.

6. Find out where all your lawmakers stand on abortion rights.

Do you know where your state, local and federal elected officials stand on abortion rights? Call or email them to find out—and urge them to act now to protect abortion rights and access in law. 

7. Tell Congress—and the Biden administration—to take immediate action to protect abortion access.

The Women’s Health Protection Act (WHPA) would protect the right to access abortion in every state, despite the Supreme Court’s ruling overturning Roe. The Ensuring Women’s Right to Reproductive Freedom Act of 2022 (H.R. 8297) would protect the right to travel to access abortion care across state lines. Both of these federal bills were recently passed by the U.S. House of Representatives and would need to overcome the Senate filibuster to be enacted.

The Center is also urging the Biden administration to declare a public health emergency to help patients obtain abortion care and enable out-of-state prescribing and dispensing of medication abortion in states where abortion is banned. The Supreme Court’s ruling has resulted in the delay or denial of health care to thousands of people across the country, and it has already caused devastating harm and utter chaos.

We must continue to act—today and every day—to work toward a future when every person, in every state, has the right to access abortion.

Read more: 

• Siete Cosas que Puedes Hacer Hoy Mismo por el Derecho al Aborto, 06.30.22

• U.S. Supreme Court Takes Away the Right to Abortion, 06.24.2022 
• “After Roe Fell: Abortion Laws by State” Map 
• Case Background: Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization