Commemorating the 50th Anniversary of Roe: Charting the Path Forward for Reproductive Equity

Protesters demand the right to abortion care on May 6, 1972. 

Commemorating Roe’s 50th anniversary.

Roe v. Wade granted millions of people across our country the legal right to abortion from 1973 to 2022. Today, our movement stands on the shoulders of giants who came before us—leaders and advocates who fought for our constitutional right to bodily autonomy and the ability to make personal decisions about our health care.

But now as we commemorate Roe’s 50th anniversary, and the first anniversary since a far-right Supreme Court overturned the landmark case, it’s our duty to re-imagine and build towards a future where abortion is not only legally protected, but completely accessible for every person across our country. 

We recognize that Roe was always the floor—not the ceiling—in the fight for reproductive freedom for all.

Charting a path for reproductive equity.

Fifty years after the landmark case was decided, and nearly seven months after it was overturned, the fight to ensure equitable access to reproductive health care for every person—regardless of race, ethnicity, income, zip code, gender, age, immigration status, ability, sexual orientation, or religion—continues.

Not only must we remove anti-abortion legislators from office and overturn dangerous state abortion bans, but we must redouble our efforts to break down cost, insurance, and travel barriers to care. It is critical that we look at reproductive health care through a holistic lens and understand that true reproductive equity means ensuring access to not only abortion, but also prenatal and postpartum care, childbirth, miscarriage management, and midwifery and doula services – without financial burdens or delay. 

Our reproductive equity agenda must address the Black maternal health crisis and ensure every person has the support they need to feel empowered throughout their pregnancy. We also must work to guarantee every person the tools and support to raise children in a healthy and safe environment when they choose to become a parent.

See our full 2023-24 legislative priorities HERE. Write to your legislators in support of our agenda HERE.

The Path Forward: In the States

The overturn of Roe showed us that the fight for abortion access is every bit as much in state legislatures, city councils, and school committees as it is in the Supreme Court or the halls of Congress. In the absence of federal abortion protections, our focus must be on the states as we work to defend and expand access to care.

For the last 50 years, the anti-abortion movement has focused its attention on the states and the courts. We need to meet this fight where it’s at and get on the ground in communities in blue, purple, and red states. We cannot wait another 50 years to build our state and local organizing power.

Investment in state advocacy work is critical to our movement’s success.

This fight involves all of us.

From working to destigmatize abortion care through conversations with friends, to getting involved in your local elections, to donating to state-based advocacy groups like Reproductive Equity Now, we all have a part to play in ensuring equitable access to reproductive health care for all.

Thank you for being a part of this movement.