Opinion: Community-based Abortion Funds Need Your Help Right Now, Not Planned Parenthood
Small abortion funds and community-based reproductive organizations are in urgent need of financial support as reproductive rights are under attack. To help those most in need, donate to local funds instead of Planned Parenthood.
(Sam Tu via Washington Square News)
by Srishti Bungle
This story was originally published on New York University’s Washington Square News.
An initial draft majority opinion overturning Roe v. Wade (1973) and Planned Parenthood v. Casey (1992) written by Supreme Court Justice Samuel Alito was leaked to Politico on the evening of May 5. If the draft is any indication of the outcome of the final ruling, there will be disastrous consequences across the United States.
The most immediate consequence will inarguably be state restrictions on abortions. The Center for Reproductive Rights concluded that 24 states and three territories will ban abortion if Roe were overturned. This ruling will affect millions of Americans’ lives for the worse. It will further restrict abortion — or ban it altogether — as an accessible option, particularly for those who are marginalized by class and race.
This news has pushed people to involve themselves in discussions of reproductive rights, and pushed many to engage with the reproductive justice movement by donating their money to big organizations like Planned Parenthood. Of course, these big nonprofits are the first to come to mind because they are often the focus of discussions in politics, news and entertainment. Still, Planned Parenthood ammasses millions of dollars in donations each year from wealthy philanthropists and corporate charity funds. Just a few months ago they received a $275 million donation from MacKenzie Scott. While they do important work, the average person’s $10 makes little to no difference to their operations and does not beget meaningful change.
Read the rest of the story at Washington Square News.