Enraged, devastated, terrified—it’s hard to put into words the flood of emotions that comes with the overturning of Roe v. Wade and the frightening aftermath for women, girls, and birthing people that will follow.

Abortion is healthcare, and healthcare is a human right—full stop. And while there are countless reasons one might need or want an abortion (which are frankly no one’s business), it’s been heartening to see so many people speak out about their personal experiences—including the numerous times abortion was used as a life-saving procedure.

As one oft-shared statement so succinctly explains: “The treatment for an ectopic pregnancy is abortion. The treatment for a septic uterus is abortion. The treatment for a miscarriage that your body won’t release is abortion. If you can’t get those abortions, you die.”

Even when it’s not a textbook “life or death” situation, forcing pregnancy, birth, and parenthood on an individual is its own brand of evil, which often eventually does have “life or death” consequences. As 3 Supreme Court justices wrote in their dissent: “A State can thus transform what, when freely undertaken, is a wonder into what, when forced, may be a nightmare.”

Now is obviously the time when trusted resources are needed as we channel our outrage into sustained action. Below, we’ve pulled together some of the abortion resources and educational materials that help frame the future we’re living in.
(This list will continue to be updated—feel free to comment with items you’d like to see added).

In anticipation of the SCOTUS ruling, New York Magazine created an extensive issue last month that is devoted to abortion, including a “state-by-state handbook for anyone in need.” If you want to see where abortion rights stand in your state, nearby states, and other locales, click over here and input your zipcode or state. In addition to a breakdown on what restrictions exist, you’ll also see a list of the nearest healthcare providers that can assist, as well as ways to order abortion pills by mail. This directory is updated daily as laws change state-to-state.

To see a fuller picture of what is happening in the U.S. (and what is anticipated to happen), bookmark this easy-to-read map created by The Washington Post and the Guttmacher Institute (you can share it on social via Impact). As these maps summarize: it is expected that 26 states are certain or likely to ban or severely restrict abortion rights.

With Roe V. Wade overturned, abortion providers and those seeking an abortion in restricted states have to be extra careful about protecting their privacy. New York Magazine has an excellent guide that includes simple steps to take to protect yourself by blocking tracking devices on your computer and phone. Anti-Racism Daily also explains how today’s wide use of digital surveillance directly threatens reproductive freedom—and what you can do about it.

Over the past several years, medication abortion—or using pills to trigger an abortion at-home or in a clinic—has gained visibility as a safe and discreet option. (Listen to this podcast about how abortion-by-pill is a large part of Mexico’s abortion rights model). Of course, like with anything, there are still medical risks. To find out more about this form of abortion—which is likely to become more prevalent in the U.S.—you can read this primer, and also visit Aid Access, Plan C, Hey Jane, and Shout Your Abortion.

Having access to Plan B (the “morning after pill”) is also key. In addition to what is available at your local pharmacy, you can also purchase Plan B online here, here, and elsewhere.

Thankfully, there are hundreds of organizations out there that are—and have been—doing the work of supporting abortion access. While large, well-known orgs like Planned Parenthood, the ACLU, and Abortion Funds are often showered with donations at times like these, there are smaller, localized funds that also need support. Anti-Racism Daily put together an incredible document that shares a list of state-based organizations led by Black, Brown, and Indigenous people. Read and bookmark the entire document here.

In a country in which Black women are 3 times more likely to die in childbirth and to pregnancy-related causes than white women—the erosion of abortion rights will be especially devastating and deadly. According to a 2021 study, if the U.S. were to ban abortion outright, pregnancy-related deaths could increase 21% for white women and 33% for Black women.

We also know that low-income women account for nearly 3/4 of abortion patients and 6 out of 10 abortion seekers are already moms—which makes taking off work, finding childcare, and traveling out of state to receive an abortion less possible.

There is no doubt about it, those who will suffer most from the loss of access to abortion are folks in marginalized communities and this is precisely the aim of those who strive to outlaw abortion and bodily autonomy across the country. Learn more about these historic systems of oppression via Anti-Racism Daily, NPR, and the ACLU.

As the despicable Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas wrote in his concurring opinion, the decision to overturn Roe v. Wade opens up the floodgates for the court to “reconsider” its previous rulings on contraception access, same-sex relationships, and same-sex marriage. With this so bluntly stated, it’s important to make sure we realize all that is at stake in this moment.

While the daily news and updates are inescapable right now, we think it’s worth your time to dig into the history of abortion in the U.S. The Janes (HBO Max), Reversing Roe (Netflix), 12th & Delaware (HBO), Vessel (Amazon Prime), Who We Are (Netflix), After Tiller (Amazon Prime), Abortion: Stories Women Tell (HBO), The Last Abortion Clinic (PBS), Abortion Helpline: This is Lisa (Amazon Prime), Civil: Ben Crump (Netflix), and Jane: An Abortion Service (Kanopy) are documentaries that’ll add needed perspective to today’s fight.