On Saturday, a few dozen Santa Barbarans gathered in De la Guerra
Plaza to show our opposition to the recent abortion bans and give our support
for Planned Parenthood. We sent letters to abortion providers in the states
under assault, created signs, and made our voices heard. It felt like a team in
training for the long haul ahead.
And a long haul it will be. A woman’s right to make her own
decision about her health is as precarious as it’s been since before Roe v. Wade a generation ago. Missouri,
Georgia, and Alabama are moving swiftly to deny millions of women the access
they deserve. Already 25 million women live in a state where abortion could be
outlawed if Roe is overturned. That’s
over 25 million people. While abortion bans impact everyone who can become
pregnant, they hit people of color and those who are struggling to make ends
meet the hardest — the people who already face barriers to accessing good
health care.
I’m writing this letter because many of my friends read the news
with dismay and ask me how they can help. Here’s how: Support your
local Planned Parenthood. By giving your money or your time to Planned Parenthood California Central
Coast or Planned Parenthood Central Coast
Action , the advocacy organization of which I serve on the board, you
are standing up for women across the country, especially women in the South.