Attacks on abortion have a long, racist history that deals with the question of who has access to power and who doesn’t. The first restrictions on abortion happened in the mid 1800s when Black communities were being liberated from enslavement and America was seeing an influx of immigrants. Why did this happen? Because white people in power were concerned that they would lose their political power. These people in power decided to control the fertility of pregnant people, pass Jim Crow and anti-immigrant laws, and suppress the vote. The American Medical Association also started pushing to stop midwives (mostly Black, Indigenous, and immigrant women) from providing pregnancy care. It was a way to make sure these women of color and immigrant women weren’t able to earn a living and gain power. Today, abortion is still being attacked in an effort to control our autonomy. The truth is that everyone loves someone who has had an abortion. We have an opportunity to elect leaders who will fight for our rights including the right to abortion care. Let’s make it happen. Text ‘VOTE’ to 30403 and make a plan to vote on Election Day, Tuesday, November 8.