In Response To Onslaught Of Anti-Abortion Attacks, Groundswell Fund Calls On Philanthropic Community To Fund Grassroots Organizing Work Led By Black And Brown Women

OAKLAND — Today, Groundswell Fund, a national women of color-led grantmaking and capacity-building organization and the largest funder of the U.S. reproductive justice movement, responded to the recent onslaught of state-level anti-abortion attacks, calling on the philanthropic community to fund grassroots organizations led by Black and Brown women and transgender people of color in impacted states.

Statement by Vanessa Daniel, Executive Director, Groundswell Fund

“Abortion access is a fundamental human right and basic healthcare that one-in-four pregnant people currently access in the United States. The recent onslaught of attacks on abortion has nothing to do with concern for the sanctity of life as these attacks are being carried out by the same people who destroy lives.These are the same people who put immigrant children in cages; who cut funding to children who are hungry, in need of medicine, or languishing in foster care; who put pregnant people suffering from trauma and substance abuse in prison rather than offering them treatment.”

“The elected officials behind these dangerous abortion bans have rejected Medicaid expansion, minimum wage increases, and have led assaults on voting rights denying hundreds of thousands of people access to care, economic freedom, and the democratic process. This is not about the sanctity of life and it is not just about abortion — this is about control. Every person of conscience and movement for social change must recognize and respond to these attacks, which are indicative of a larger expanding totalitarianism and fascism that if left unchecked will affect us all.”

“Today, we’re calling on foundations, donors, and national organizations from all sectors to fight against these attacks by funding and following the lead of grassroots organizations led by Black and Brown women and transgender people of color in impacted states. This is the leadership that is fighting year-round to protect abortion access within the larger critical battle for the right to bodily autonomy. With the right resources, no other leadership is better positioned to hold public officials accountable and protect the freedom of all people.”

“Donate today to Groundswell’s Rapid Response Fund, which is deploying resources quickly to groups on the ground in key states. You can also give directly to the organizations listed below, which Groundswell, key movement leaders and partners strongly recommend supporting.

In Alabama: Yellowhammer Fund, Unite for Reproductive and Gender Equity (URGE), P.O.W.E.R. House, Black Women’s Roundtable (designate “Alabama” to receive your donation), The Knights and Orchids Society.

In Georgia: ARC Southeast, Feminist Women’s Health Center, SPARK for Reproductive Justice NOW, Sistersong, National Asian Pacific American Women’s Forum (NAPAWF), Women Engaged.

In Missouri: Reproaction.

In Virginia: National Latina Institute for Reproductive Health Latina Advocacy Network, Richmond Reproductive Freedom Project.

In Louisiana: Women with a Vision.

In Ohio: New Voices for Reproductive Justice.

Nationally: National Network of Abortion Funds.

“The only way to win against systemic assaults on our human rights is through grassroots organizing that builds solidarity across issues and communities. Black and Brown women and transgender people of color have been working in this way for decades because our lives have depended on it. Let’s fund the leadership that is shining a light on the path to freedom for all.”

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Groundswell Fund is a national women of color-led grantmaking and capacity-building organization and the largest funder of the U.S. reproductive justice movement. Groundswell resources intersectional, solidarity-based grassroots organizing work that centers Black and Brown women, and Transgender people of color.