Mourning while celebrating the 50th anniversary of Roe v. Wade

What should’ve been a moment of pure celebration—the 50th anniversary of Roe v. Wade, which is this Sunday, January 22—has become an occasion for mourning as well as bittersweet reflection on what this landmark case brought us over almost 50 years.

Roe v. Wade established the constitutional right to abortion and, in so doing, vastly improved access to abortion across the country. But on June 24, 2022, the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision in Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization overturned Roe v. Wade.

We will certainly cry this weekend (and probably also scream), but today, in defiance of those who have celebrated taking away one of our most precious rights, we have chosen to lift up the voices of those who have benefited from access to abortion.

Abortion is an act of self-love

Abortion is health care

Abortion is for parents

Abortion is freedom

Abortion saves lives

Abortion is the future

Abortion is love

Abortion is okay, whatever the reason

Abortion is mental health care

And we can’t go back