Speaking out against a 15-week abortion ban in Richmond
Washingtonians stand with Virginians against abortion bans!
Gov. Youngkin threatens to introduce an unpopular and evil 15-week abortion ban during a special session On Wednesday. I drove 2 hours down to Richmond to speak out alongside some badass pro-abortion activists and advocates.
Together we made it clear: we would not let Governor Youngkin sneak in a ban that 77% of Virginians do not support.
Transcript of my speech is below the video.
My name is Steph Black and I’m an abortion activist. I took time off of work today to come all the way down here from Washington, DC where I live.
Coming here today to speak out against any proposed abortion ban, was critical for me. You see, I’m a practical support volunteer. I drive patients who travel to DC from all around to country to our clinics. I’ve driven patients from as far as Chicago. But many of our patients are as close as NOVA.
If an abortion ban were to take effect in Virginia, it would not prevent abortions in the way that Governor Youngkin hopes it would.
Instead, it would force abortion seekers to travel even further to access the care they need and want. DC is a haven for abortion seekers but Virginians deserve care in their own communities.
Flooding DC with Virginians will strain an already strained abortion ecosystem.
People seeking abortions deserve to do so with dignity. While I am always honored to be a part of this process for travelers, I can’t help but feel angry at the legislators who force people to uproot their lives, scramble to find childcare, and use their precious PTO, to make the trek–often alone– to my city.
Importantly, the people who will be most impacted by a 15-week ban, and the people I will most likely drive to and from an abortion clinic, are already the most marginalized among us. It will disproportionately punish BIPOC, queer folks, young people, and those struggling to make ends meet.
Governor Youngkin: your neighbors are watching you. We won’t let an abortion ban stand. Washingtonians will be there for any Virginian who needs abortion care.
