The right to get an abortion in the U.S. was protected under federal law following the 1973 Supreme Court ruling of Roe v. Wade. In June of 2022, the Supreme Court overturned this decision. The repercussions of this ruling have directly harmed the health of women throughout the United States, allowing states to institute abortion bans and restrictions that make it incredibly difficult for women in affected states to access necessary reproductive care.
This was the case for one Texas woman named Porsha Ngumezi. On June 11, 2023, she lost her life after healthcare providers neglected to treat her for complications of a miscarriage for fear of facing repercussions. New laws, such as those in Texas, place healthcare workers who provide reproductive care in danger. The penalty for those found guilty of performing an abortion in Texas is a 99-year prison sentence and a $100,000 fine. As a result of the fear surrounding this type of care, Ngumezi bled out in the emergency room. This is just one of many situations where women have lost their lives due to abortion restrictions.
Unfortunately, the current administration does not intend to solve this issue. Project 2025, the blueprint for the Trump administration’s agenda, lays out plans for restricting the shipping and legality of abortion pills, undoing privacy protections for abortion patients, and stripping away abortion access. At the same time, Project 2025 does not introduce any childcare initiatives to assist mothers who cannot support the children they are forced to give birth to. These restrictions implemented by the government make it imperative that we protect these rights in order to save the lives of American women.
In the state of Oregon, a variety of associations exist to support abortion access. One such institution is Cascades Abortion Support Collective. CASC is a volunteer-run organization that believes that everyone deserves bodily autonomy and access to safe and accessible reproductive care. The collective’s main goal is to remove the societal barriers in place that make it difficult for women to get reproductive care, whether that is a lack of education or a lack of access to said care. To do this, they provide free services assisting with the logistics of receiving reproductive care, both in English and Spanish.
CASC offers transportation to clinics, or help purchasing bus tickets, along with finding housing, childcare and meals for those in need. In addition, they work with organizations in the area that provide other resources supporting reproductive care. Many of their services are centered around the physical and emotional well-being of the patient both before and after the procedure. CASC supplies free abortion aftercare kits that include items such as menstrual pads, Ibuprofen, herbal tea and chocolate. The organization also helps to provide emotional support to those in need through trained volunteers who offer support in person or online. In a political climate that is so hostile towards abortion access, it is vital that women have support and the ability to make their own medical decisions without fear. Groups like Cascades Abortion Support Collective make that possible.
If you are interested in supporting reproductive rights, volunteering through Cascades Abortion Support Collective is an incredibly beneficial way to do so. Volunteers, referred to as collective members, serve as case managers and assist patients in various ways, providing meals, aftercare kits and rides. The organization is currently looking for Spanish speakers to become collective members in order to broaden their support system.
A volunteer could expect to spend three-10 hours per week volunteering, with meetings every other Thursday from 6:30-8:00 pm. An interest form is available on the website for anyone who wants to get involved with protecting reproductive healthcare. Even if you cannot be a consistent volunteer, there are still numerous ways to get involved and support reproductive justice, such as donating to organizations like CASC, spreading awareness about the cause, fundraising and holding supply drives. The CASC website contains information and links to similar establishments. These alternatives provide an opportunity to get involved or seek support for those whose needs or interests differ from what CASC has to offer. Remember, getting involved doesn’t always have to mean something as concrete as donating or volunteering.
Even the simple act of educating yourself and your peers on the issue can be impactful. Staying informed is a crucial way to support those around us, especially amidst a political climate that seeks to take away our information and access to fundamental rights.
Reporting by Alma Ben-Zaken, Clara Gooley, Valerie Lawrence and Teagan Rork
Photo courtesy of Cascades Abortion Support Collective
