We Have No Time for Hope
The news from Texas yesterday was dreadful. Attorney General Ken Paxton announced the arrest of a midwife for providing abortions. Maria Margaria Rojas faces a felony charge and, if convicted, could face up to 20 years in prison. (Link to article).
This was the next logical step for anti-choice extremists after the loss of Roe’s key protections for clinicians. It is no coincidence that the provider targeted is a woman of color serving low-income women of color.
Democrats get all squishy when it comes to wielding power. We didn’t make Washington, D.C., and Puerto Rico states when we had the chance. We didn’t get rid of the awful Hyde Amendment. We didn’t make birth control pills available over the counter. We thought about it, but it all seemed hard and noisy and might engender some push back. So, we did nothing.
And when we do have the opportunity to get something done—like the Biden administration’s investment in infrastructure—we get so bogged down by red tape we end up getting nothing done. Instead of showing every county in the country that government can accomplish big things, Biden moved only 17% of the infrastructure funds over two years.
I attended a conference last week where Kristen Tompkins, former CEO of Patagonia and a dedicated conservationist. She said:
“If we want hope, we have to work like hell and deserve it.”
We don’t have time to debate whether we feel hopeful or not. Instead, each of us needs to roll up our sleeves and get to work.
In other words: Chuck Schumer is not going to save us.
But we don’t need Chuck. We have enough energy, agency, and courage to do it ourselves!
As we get to work, it's important to remember that this is no longer a battle between left and right—it’s a battle between right and wrong. And in that fight, everyone is welcome, regardless of party, position, or place.
My action list today is less repro-focused because we are facing an existential fight to save civil society—one that few saw coming just months ago. Of course, you know that every fight for justice and democracy is also a fight for reproductive freedom.
Things You Can Do Today:
1. Support Civil Society
Every day, nonprofit organizations—here and abroad—are being forced to shut down due to the illegal and immoral destruction of civic institutions. The National Council of Nonprofits (NCN) has stepped up, leading litigation against the illegal stoppage of grant payments to nonprofits (link to article.) Their new CEO, Diane Yentel, has shown extraordinary courage in standing up to these attacks.
Please support the fundraiser I created for the National Council of Nonprofits: Donate here if you can, and please share this campaign.
2. Read This Harvard Law Today Article
This article provides an excellent overview of the legal issues surrounding shield laws and abortion telehealth—a topic that may soon reach the Supreme Court. The key legal question: Is telehealth care governed by the physician’s state or the patient’s state?
The article also includes critical insights on protecting physicians and expanding access to medication abortion via telehealth. Read it here.
3. Join Democratic Party Town Halls
Finally, some Democratic energy! My candidate, Ben Wikler, didn’t win the DNC chairmanship, but one of his ideas has taken root: The Democratic Party is hosting nationwide town halls with massive turnouts. We need to show up and be heard! Find an event near you: Join here.
You have every right to feel angry, frustrated, and even heartbroken today.
But what you cannot be is afraid.
That’s what they want.
So let’s not waste a minute. Let’s get to work!