Florida Abortion Ban Will Be Devastating for Black Women in the South

On Wednesday Florida’s six-week abortion ban takes effect, cutting off a major hub for abortion access in the South. In response, Dr. Regina Davis Moss, President and CEO of In Our Own Voice, released the following statement:

“Florida has been a major destination for people traveling out of state for abortion care. Forcing people to travel longer and longer distances to access abortion care will take a severe economic toll as the costs of travel, taking time off work and child care add up. More than half of Black women of reproductive age live in states that have banned or are likely to ban abortion, many of which are in the South. Florida’s abortion ban will gut access across the region, and may put abortion care out of reach altogether for patients who are already grappling with economic insecurity. Abortion bans are not based on medical evidence or the interests of patients, and laws that keep health care providers from doing their jobs will diminish our health care system and push health care providers out of Florida. What’s more, this abortion ban means that more Black women, girls and gender-expansive people will be targeted by surveillance, policing and punishment because of their pregnancy.

“Florida is home to 960,500 Black women of reproductive age, who are especially vulnerable to the factors that make pregnancy more dangerous for women and birthing people in Florida compared to other states, such as inadequate access to health care. We will not stop fighting for the right of all people to make their own decisions about their pregnancies and their futures, and we will continue to work with voters in Florida and around the country to dismantle abortion bans and advance policies rooted in Reproductive Justice.”

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In Our Own Voice: National Black Women’s Reproductive Justice Agenda is a national-state partnership focused on lifting up the voices of Black women leaders at the national and regional levels in our fight to secure Reproductive Justice for all women, femmes, and girls. Our eight strategic partners are Black Women for Wellness, Black Women’s Health Imperative, New Voices for Reproductive Justice, SisterLove, Inc. SisterReach, SPARK Reproductive Justice NOW, The Afiya Center and Women With A Vision.