While WA Charters exists to support and advocate for charter public schools, we recognize that we cannot effectively do our work if we are not responsive to the needs of our communities and the issues that impact community members’ lives beyond the walls of schools. As an anti-racist, community-rooted organization, we recognize abortion as essential healthcare and reproductive freedom as a human right.
While Washington state currently benefits from strong abortion and health care protections, states outlawing and restricting abortion access will serve to make health decisions more dangerous, especially for systemically marginalized communities already facing a tremendous level of medical gatekeeping. Our hearts break for Global Majority (Black, Brown, Asian, Indigenous, and People of Color), low-income, disabled, LGBTQIA+ and immigrant communities, and individuals with life-threatening pregnancies who stand to lose access to necessary and life-saving reproductive medical care. Every person deserves to have access to medically necessary care and procedures. Full stop.
As a nation, we must continue to fight to dismantle systems of power and oppression.
We must maintain our strong protections in Washington state, and WA Charters will stand with our communities to support those across the country who will lose access to necessary medical care. We also recognize the mental health toll this news has on our communities, and we offer the following resources to help you learn, process, and heal.
Resources
Lay of the Land: Abortion Policies and Access in the United States – https://states.guttmacher.org/policies/washington/abortion-policies
For parents: talking about abortion with tweens and teens – https://amaze.org/video/pregnancy-reproduction-what-is-abortion/
Feeling Numb, Angry, or Overwhelmed by Roe v. Wade News? Here’s a 10-Step Action Plan to Take Care of Yourself – https://www.wellandgood.com/manage-stress-roe-v-wade/