Some states have already banned abortion. There are threats of national abortion bans or some national restrictions, such as the ability to purchase Mifepristone. Pro-life organizations are often well-funded, politically connected, and run public messaging campaigns. While protesting for abortion rights is important, we should not rely on our politicians to protect us, and we all play a role.
Mifepristone has a shelf life of up to 5 years. If you can afford it or have insurance coverage, buy mifepristone while it is still available and stock up on it; You may need a prescription from your doctor. Be sure to store it correctly. Get connected with various organizations who engage with the public or provide abortion care, so that your supply is accessible to those who need it.
Note that "Providing abortion pills to someone else could be construed as practicing medicine without a license, which can land you in jail," according to The Cut, and I cannot recommend this if it is illegal. In that case, you can stock up for your own personal use.
Some groups to consider getting in touch with, to let them know you have Mifepristone available include: your local democratic party, Democratic Socialists of America, Green Party, LGBTQIA+ groups, sexual health organizations (places that provide free STD testing), or other local activist groups. You might also connect with local churches who are explicitly welcoming. Planned Parenthood likely can't work with you in an official capacity, but you can speak with individual representatives who are committed to resistance. Many of these orgs will have tables at local events like Pride Fest, or perhaps some Farmer's markets or art shows.
Access to pregnancy tests is important. Just as you may stock up on Mifepristone, you may seek to make pregnancy tests available by donating them to organizations that have access to people seeking abortion care. If you work at a pharmacy, talk to your management about setting up a fund to provide free tests and condoms to those in need.
If you are a worker in an institution - hospitals, homeless shelters, charity organizations, or others - you may work within your organization to ensure that pregnancy tests are available to the people you serve.
Pregnancy prevention is another important aspect of preventing unwanted births. Be sure to protect access to education about sexual health, condoms, birth control (for men and women), and to make resources available for prevention. Teachers, community members, school board members, Health Department employees, and others play a role in this.
If you are a doctor seeing patients for regular checkups, ask them if they have any questions about sexual health or pregnancy prevention. Men play a role in this as well and are also responsible for preventing unwanted pregnancies.
Pro life groups have a lot of billboards. In my town, some cost about $400 or $500 dollars for a month, and all you need is money and a graphic to get one of these. You can combat anti-abortion messaging through billboards. Talk to your pro-choice friends and pro-choice groups and crowd-fund these billboards. If you're wealthy, you might afford this on your own, but you should talk to local pro-choice groups or friends who have had abortions to ensure your messaging is helpful. Ask your graphic-designer friends to help you design a graphic. Don't over-complicate it. Just do something. To get the billboard, look up the company name listed on the pole and call them.
Even with every step of resistance, some unwanted births are likely to happen. Work on providing supportive services for parents in your community - day care, adoption services, foster care, prenatal vitamins, food & meals, and more.
Professional chemists may also be able to synthesize some of the medications that are restricted from interstate sale. Many federal restrictions are likely to exist around interstate transactions, so work within-the-state may not be affected by federal law.
You may also advocate for abortion-friendly state laws and local laws. You may advocate for funding of abortion and sexual-health services with your local health department.
Be creative, work in your lane, and do what you can. You can also advocate with local school boards, teachers unions, city councils, county health boards, and other government groups to provide services and education related to abortion, pregnancy, birth, and childcare.
Keep in mind, none of this is legal advice. I am not a lawyer, and you may want to consult with one if you are working within any grey areas. I cannot recommend breaking any laws, and if anything I've suggested is illegal in your jurisdiction, I cannot recommend such behavior.
Doctors - Some abortion bans allow for medically-necessary abortion. If you are a medical provider, do a thorough assessment to document and identify clear medical reasons why an abortion is necessary. A patient seeking care may not initially present with dire medical needs, but those needs may still exist. Some states may be excessively letigious and charge doctors who provide abortions, even when they are medically necessary. Every person has their own limits for risk, and this is a deeply personal choice, but those of you with the ability and the courage may resist and take these risks.
You might also organize with other medical providers to talk with lawyers in your state so that you correctly understand your risks, and have representation. Lawyers should provide pro-bono legal services to those who cannot afford them.
Many abortion bans also allow for exceptions in the case of rape or incest. I have long heard that many rapes go unreported. As a medical provider, you may inquire with the patient about whether their pregnancy is due to a rape, and you may inform them clearly of their rights to access abortion in such a case. Some patients may not remember the details of the assault due to having been drugged, so it is possible that a victim cannot identify an attacker.
Some of these rape/incest abortion exceptions are sure to require a police report. As a doctor, you may seek to build relationships with officers who are compassionate and understanding, who will not shame the victims. If a victim is to report to an officer who is unkind or cruel or blames them for the assault, this could work against protecting your patient from a forced birth.
Additionally, many abortion bans still allow for abortions very early in a pregnancy. Allowing for abortion in these cases may require swift action from medical providers and correct identification of when the pregnancy began.
As a police officer, you should listen to people's stories, with regard to abortion, and regard to rape and incest. Look up stories online and open your ears and your mind. Listen and be understanding. You may have certain pre-conceived notions that you should work to overcome. You may also seek to build relationships with nurses and doctors to be available to victims who may otherwise be unwilling to come forward. You might not be able to meaningfully investigate every report of rape or incest, but you can still listen and file a report. You can still be compassionate and understanding.
Further, as an officer, you should organize with your coworkers, and collectively refuse to engage in unconstitutional and unethical behavior. If you're ordered to arrest people for having abortions or miscarriages, go on strike or quit.
Anyone - As an individual, you may have relationships with police officers or medical providers. You can discuss these issues with them and help them to build these relationships. Further, if you have friends who are seeking an abortion, especially after being assaulted, you may be able to connect your friends to these compassionate officers who will do their jobs with kindness and grace. Individuals may also seek to build these relationships across various organizations, such as the ones I mentioned above.
Prosecutors - If you work a prosecutors office, you likely have a large caseload. You likely have more pressing cases than those involving abortions. It is far more important to prosecute violent crimes, for example, than it is to prosecute doctors for providing medical care. While you have a duty to follow the law, you also will have to make decisions about prioritizing which cases to prosecute forcefully. Whereby your leadership directs you toward frivelous cases, you may resist or quit if you are ordered to engage in unethical behavior. Your duty, first and foremost, is to serve the public - not your boss and not the political agenda thats in power.
Everything is enforced by an individual, within a local community.
Resist.
Cover Photo by Derek French on Pexels