Gonna write a thread to briefly summarize what's happening in Fredericton

I know what your first question is: What's Fredericton? Fair question tbh.

Fredericton is the capital city of the province of New Brunswick. Our government has a history of sabotaging abortion access.

Clinic 554 is one of only a few locations in New Brunswick that provides abortion access. It's also the only one in Fredericton. They cover the costs of abortions because our government refuses to fund abortions in private clinics, which is a violation of the Canada Health Act.

About one year ago, Clinic 554 announced that it would be forced to close due to this lack of funding.

And we're losing more than just abortion access. Clinic 554 is also an LGBTQ+ focused clinic. It's where I and many trans people in Fredericton go to get our HRT prescriptions.

And now, one year later, Clinic 554's closure is imminent. I and 3000 other patients no longer have a family doctor.

All because of New Brunswick's anti-abortion, conservative premier, Blaine Higgs, and the health minister, Ted Flemming. Both absolute disgraces.

People have been setting up tents outside Fredericton's legislative building and occupying the space as a form of peaceful protest. Today, one such protest was scheduled. Also today, our government passed an unconstitutional law that basically says we can't occupy in this way.

Awfully coincidental, isn't it.

Police have shown up at the legislative building to intimidate protesters and tear down tents.

So that's where we're at.

We're mourning the loss an important healthcare resource for people with uteruses and queer and trans people. We're heartbroken, we're angry, and we're tired. It hasn't just been this past year that we've been fighting for abortion access and LGBTQ+ healthcare.

And now, in this small province, in this small city, police are escalating peaceful protests.

That about covers it.