We will not sugarcoat this: the leak this week of a Supreme Court majority opinion overturning Roe v. Wade, a ruling that would eliminate the constitutional right to abortion, is extremely alarming. 

It is also a wake-up call. 

While we do not know if the leaked opinion in Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization will be the final one issued, it is nonetheless shocking to read a draft opinion showing just how extreme and dangerous the Court has become over the last decade. A Court that would issue an opinion this radical is clearly a Court that no longer can be expected to protect any individual freedoms. 

While overturning constitutional protections for other fundamental rights, including marriage equality, would be more difficult for the Court to achieve, this draft opinion shows that nothing is off the table for the new radical conservative majority of Justices. The rights of LGBTQ people and our families are in the crosshairs. It is obvious that we can no longer count on the courts to protect our rights. 

It is not lost on us that many of you reading this letter right now were on the front lines nearly 50 years ago fighting for our right to privacy, bodily autonomy, and safe, accessible abortions. This is a clear, unprecedented, and coordinated action to take away the rights that our champions secured for us.

We are going to fight. 

Right now we will be working in solidarity with those who are fighting alongside us for reproductive freedom, voting rights, the safety of people of color, full equality for LGBTQ people, people who  have immigrated or are seeking asylum in this country, people living in poverty, and so many more.  We are asking everyone committed to protecting our fragile democracy to join us. Every day counts. 

Though this week has been a difficult one, it reminds us, more than ever, of the importance of our fight. As Martin Luther King, Jr., reminded us: “the arc of the moral universe is long, but it bends toward justice.” 

It’s important to stress: the Court has not yet issued its decision in the Dobbs case, and abortion is still legal. Here’s what you can do right now to support access to abortion care:

• Donate to Abortion Funds: A donation to the National Network of Abortion Funds brings abortion funds closer to a future where all people have access to abortion without shame or stigma. 
• Keep Our Clinics: Support independent community providers who provide the majority of abortion care in the U.S.
• M+A Hotline: a confidential, private, and secure phone and text hotline for people in need of support for self-managed miscarriage or abortion.
• If you have questions about self-managed abortion and the law, @ifwhenhow can help. The Repro Legal Helpline is a free, confidential source for legal advice and information on self-managed abortion. Visit ReproLegalHelpline.org or call 844-868-2812.
• INeedAnA.com: Find a clinic – to find vetted, up-to-date, and personalized info on how to get an abortion; no search or user data saved. 
• Support/Share Practical Support Organizations (PSOs): PSOs help abortion seekers with travel and logistical support.

We have come a long way since our founding in 1977 and we have seen many losses on that path. But we have also seen countless wins, and our resolve remains the same. NCLR has never stopped fighting for our rights for 45 years – and we won’t stop now.