Texas Abortion Fund Cautiously Reopens Services With Legal Reprieve.usa news
When the U.S. Supreme Court Overturned Law vs. Wade Last June, Kamyon Conner sobbed at her desk.
As Executive Director, texas Equal Access Fund – A non-profit organization based in North Texas that helps patients pay for abortions – Conner has been forced to close its group hotline for the first time in its nearly 20-year history. I was. This meant cutting off a critical avenue for hundreds of mostly low-income people of color to provide needed care outside of the state.
With Roe overturned, the Texans – already Living under the abortion ban after 6 weeks – 2 months left until full recovery No Triggers be enacted.But anti-abortion Republican Attorney General Ken Paxton issued a notice That day, it encouraged the local district attorney to immediately file criminal charges against those who helped people get abortions. All 10 of his foundations in Texas quickly stopped abortion assistance services for fear of imprisonment for themselves, their clients and their supporters.
Now, after a hiatus of about nine months, organizations such as the Texas Equal Access Fund are cautiously resuming service.
This Comes After U.S. District Judge Robert Pittman issued an interim injunction In February, a handful of district attorneys blocked an organization that helps Texans with out-of-state abortion care. class action lawsuit Submitted by eight abortion funds. The fund hopes Pittman will be issued permanent protection in the coming months, and also hopes to extend his ruling to all Texas district attorneys.
A mostly grassroots non-profit organization, the Abortion Fund either directly finances abortion procedures or provides practical support services such as trips to clinics, hotel stays, gas, airfare and childcare. Help low-income residents by funding For nearly 30 years, the Abortion Fund has played a key role in connecting the most vulnerable people to access to abortion across the country. In the post-Roe world, as more states move to ban abortion, it will only become more important. Donations to National Fund Spike After Dobbs Decision Overthrows Roe: Five Months After Ruling, National Abortion Fund Network (NNAF) Raised over $8 millioncompared to less than $2 million in individual giving in 2020 as a whole.
Texas, the largest U.S. state to ban abortion care, has more abortion funds than any other state, accounting for more than 10% of the nation’s funds, says NNAF executive director Oriaku Njoku said. Texans must travel to the nearest out-of-state clinic, which is at least 515 miles away, according to the report. Guttmacher Institute.
There are probably thousands of residents who did not have access to abortions through Texas funds during the long shutdown. Even before closing the helpline, abortion funds like Texas Equal Access were often unable to meet the high demand for abortion assistance in Texas. For example, out of 5,000 he asked for help in 2021, less than one-third of hers could be funded. Of the nearly 4,000 calls made to the Lilith Fund, an Austin-based group, in 2020, only about 1,000 were funded.
Conner, who has worked with the Texas Equal Access Fund since 2006, said, “It was heartbreaking to know that I couldn’t help the people who called. They are some of the people most in need of assistance.” Some may have been forced to give birth against their will. ”
Fund Texas Choice, which provides travel assistance, resumed “limited” services in early March, and Texas Equal Access Fund reopened last week. The Lilith Fund announced Monday that it will finally resume raising abortion funds.
“We are very excited to be funding abortions again for people in Texas,” said Nisha Dave, interim executive director of the Lilith Foundation. Helping people in Texas who are forced to move to receive care means everything to us.”
Paxton’s threats against the fund are part of a broader campaign by anti-abortion activists across the state.
In 2020, the abortion fund will so-called “criminal” organizations locally “Fetal sanctuary” A proliferating ordinance in Texas.Funds received last year letter of cancellation From anti-abortion legislators faced Threat of lawsuits from anti-abortion opponents who claim the organization “supported and abetted” abortions.
Not all funds, such as the Frontera Fund, which helps people living on the U.S.-Mexico border, have resumed services. Mostly Latinos and undocumented people who have the longest travel times to clinics and who already face logistical barriers due to their immigration status. The same applies to Jane’s due process. This helps teens get a judge’s order to access an abortion without parental consent.
Neither fund has yet resumed service and is paying attention to specific vulnerabilities for its customers.
Nan Kirkpatrick of Jane’s Due Process said:
The Republican-dominated Congress currently in session could make the Fund’s recent court victory short-lived.
Among the many laws one bill It seeks to criminalize abortion funding by making it a felony for Texans to pay for a portion of the cost of an abortion, even if the procedure takes place in a state where abortion is legal. abortion fund. It also authorizes the Attorney General to prosecute violations of law if the district attorney refuses to prosecute. another bill District attorneys who refuse to prosecute abortion law violations will be removed from office. not prosecute Abortion-related crime. The legislative session ends on May 29th.
“We have been threatened many times by extremists,” says Dave. “It will be exhausting and frustrating, but we will ensure that we remain resilient and are here to fight back against unjust laws and ensure that people have access to the care they need.”
Summarize this content to 100 words When the U.S. Supreme Court Overturned Law vs. Wade Last June, Kamyon Conner sobbed at her desk.As Executive Director, texas Equal Access Fund – A non-profit organization based in North Texas that helps patients pay for abortions – Conner has been forced to close its group hotline for the first time in its nearly 20-year history. I was. This meant cutting off a critical avenue for hundreds of mostly low-income people of color to provide needed care outside of the state.With Roe overturned, the Texans – already Living under the abortion ban after 6 weeks – 2 months left until full recovery No Triggers be enacted.But anti-abortion Republican Attorney General Ken Paxton issued a notice That day, it encouraged the local district attorney to immediately file criminal charges against those who helped people get abortions. All 10 of his foundations in Texas quickly stopped abortion assistance services for fear of imprisonment for themselves, their clients and their supporters.Now, after a hiatus of about nine months, organizations such as the Texas Equal Access Fund are cautiously resuming service.This Comes After U.S. District Judge Robert Pittman issued an interim injunction In February, a handful of district attorneys blocked an organization that helps Texans with out-of-state abortion care. class action lawsuit Submitted by eight abortion funds. The fund hopes Pittman will be issued permanent protection in the coming months, and also hopes to extend his ruling to all Texas district attorneys.A mostly grassroots non-profit organization, the Abortion Fund either directly finances abortion procedures or provides practical support services such as trips to clinics, hotel stays, gas, airfare and childcare. Help low-income residents by funding For nearly 30 years, the Abortion Fund has played a key role in connecting the most vulnerable people to access to abortion across the country. In the post-Roe world, as more states move to ban abortion, it will only become more important. Donations to National Fund Spike After Dobbs Decision Overthrows Roe: Five Months After Ruling, National Abortion Fund Network (NNAF) Raised over $8 millioncompared to less than $2 million in individual giving in 2020 as a whole.Texas, the largest U.S. state to ban abortion care, has more abortion funds than any other state, accounting for more than 10% of the nation’s funds, says NNAF executive director Oriaku Njoku said. Texans must travel to the nearest out-of-state clinic, which is at least 515 miles away, according to the report. Guttmacher Institute.Pro-demonstrators in Amarillo, Texas, March 15, 2023. Photo: ReutersThere are probably thousands of residents who did not have access to abortions through Texas funds during the long shutdown. Even before closing the helpline, abortion funds like Texas Equal Access were often unable to meet the high demand for abortion assistance in Texas. For example, out of 5,000 he asked for help in 2021, less than one-third of hers could be funded. Of the nearly 4,000 calls made to the Lilith Fund, an Austin-based group, in 2020, only about 1,000 were funded.Conner, who has worked with the Texas Equal Access Fund since 2006, said, “It was heartbreaking to know that I couldn’t help the people who called. They are some of the people most in need of assistance.” Some may have been forced to give birth against their will. ”Fund Texas Choice, which provides travel assistance, resumed “limited” services in early March, and Texas Equal Access Fund reopened last week. The Lilith Fund announced Monday that it will finally resume raising abortion funds.“We are very excited to be funding abortions again for people in Texas,” said Nisha Dave, interim executive director of the Lilith Foundation. Helping people in Texas who are forced to move to receive care means everything to us.”Paxton’s threats against the fund are part of a broader campaign by anti-abortion activists across the state.Skip past newsletter promotionssign up Guardian headlineFor US readers, we offer a regional version of our daily email, delivering the most important headlines every morningPrivacy Notice: The newsletter may contain information about charities, online advertising and content funded by external parties. For more information, privacy policyWe use Google reCaptcha to protect our website and Google. privacy policy and terms of service application.After newsletter promotionIn 2020, the abortion fund will so-called “criminal” organizations locally “Fetal sanctuary” A proliferating ordinance in Texas.Funds received last year letter of cancellation From anti-abortion legislators faced Threat of lawsuits from anti-abortion opponents who claim the organization “supported and abetted” abortions.Not all funds, such as the Frontera Fund, which helps people living on the U.S.-Mexico border, have resumed services. Mostly Latinos and undocumented people who have the longest travel times to clinics and who already face logistical barriers due to their immigration status. The same applies to Jane’s due process. This helps teens get a judge’s order to access an abortion without parental consent.Neither fund has yet resumed service and is paying attention to specific vulnerabilities for its customers.Nan Kirkpatrick of Jane’s Due Process said:The Republican-dominated Congress currently in session could make the Fund’s recent court victory short-lived.Among the many laws one bill It seeks to criminalize abortion funding by making it a felony for Texans to pay for a portion of the cost of an abortion, even if the procedure takes place in a state where abortion is legal. abortion fund. It also authorizes the Attorney General to prosecute violations of law if the district attorney refuses to prosecute. another bill District attorneys who refuse to prosecute abortion law violations will be removed from office. not prosecute Abortion-related crime. The legislative session ends on May 29th.“We have been threatened many times by extremists,” says Dave. “It will be exhausting and frustrating, but we will ensure that we remain resilient and are here to fight back against unjust laws and ensure that people have access to the care they need.”
https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2023/apr/06/texas-abortion-funds-resume-service-legal-reprieve Texas Abortion Fund Cautiously Reopens Services With Legal Reprieve.usa news