Some very imp. points & necessary discussion. However, I need to push back on “abortion is racist” because that demonizes providers and plays into right-wing escalation of harassment toward clinics & doctors, & harmful rhetoric. It is abortion ACCESS that is racist (1) https://twitter.com/travelingnun/status/1274738762845732866

Furthermore, it is not just abortion ACCESS, but all manners of healthcare, education, and support systems that are not only deeply racist, but also elitist. Midwifery, maternal health, infant health, sex education, birth control & sterilization (as Bridget talked about) (2)

A procedure in and of itself cannot be racist, instead it is the way it has been weaponized and co-option, and misrepresented in America for generations. I’m currently making a film on later abortion & let me tell you abortion is also LIFESAVING for many people. (3)

And while we’re talking intersections, abortion access is also deeply ableist. Any ask disability activist/advocate. I’ve been talking to a few (some of whom are women of color). So we cannot talk honestly about any systemic form of racism without addressing its intersections (4)

I’m glad Bridget brought up #reproductivejustice. It is a FAR better framework than just the political pro life/pro choice paradigm. But RJ does not demonize abortion and believes it should be available & accessible to WOC. Their indictment is of the SYSTEM, not procedure (5).

When you read the works of @LorettaJRoss & follow/support orgs like @SisterSong_WOC @SisterReach @BlkMamasMatter we start to understand that the racism becomes apparent in ACCESS TO abortion, maternal health, infant health etc etc. (6)

And my final concern is that by calling abortion racist in America, it is repeating a right-wing propaganda ploy about racism in the abortion care space which sees them erecting racist billboards in NYC & co-option the #blacklivesmatter statement. (7)

We do indeed need more exposure and eradication of America’s racist healthcare access past and present. But please for the love of god stop demonizing abortion providers, those who need abortions & those who support abortion access. (END)