SisterSong, a women of color reproductive justice collective based in Georgia, sounded the alarm for Black women on Facebook Sept. 16: “Today, we are mourning the loss of Amber Nicole Thurman. When Amber sought medical care, doctors delayed providing lifesaving care as Georgia law criminalized the procedure Amber needed.
“Experts deemed Amber’s death preventable, but this is the result of heartless attacks on our bodies. This is the reality of being a Black woman seeking care in an anti-abortion America. … We must Trust Black Women to lead the fight to defeat extremist politicians who oppose bodily autonomy.”
Danielle Rodriguez, SisterSong’s Georgia Coordinator stated: “We cannot allow Amber’s death to be in vain. It is time for us to take action. We call on every person who believes in the right to safe, accessible health care to stand with us. Contact your local representatives and demand they repeal Georgia’s abortion ban, which is killing our loved ones.”
On Sept. 18, SisterSong posted: “We are in the midst of a reproductive health crisis! We refuse to sit idly by while Black women lose their lives due to the criminalization of care caused by restrictive abortion bans. If you are ready to organize to put an end to the control of our bodies, we welcome you. Reproductive Justice envisions a world where all of us can make decisions about our bodies and determine our futures.
“We need all hands on deck to demand accountability for Amber Nicole Thurman and Candi Miller. If we don’t act now, their stories — and the untold tragedies yet to come — will only become more common.”
Remember Amber Nicole Thurman! Remember Candi Miller!