A behind the scenes look into grassroots organizing for abortion
When Gov. Kim Reynolds announced that the Iowa legislature was holding a special session to try to ban abortion in July, I felt a wave of complex emotions. Anti-choice politicians have been relentlessly trying to attack abortion for decades, and with Roe gone, politicians across the country have gone rogue, speed running attacks left and right.
I had to do something; I knew I couldn’t let their dangerous agenda win. So, along with my fellow Planned Parenthood Advocates of Iowa organizers, we prepared to tackle our biggest fight since Dobbs and organize one of our most impactful rallies yet.
Abortion rights are at stake in the upcoming election—again. Every small action, every new person who joins our email lists, every donation, and every person who votes is making a change.
With only one week to plan, there was no time to waste. Immediately, I went to multiple community events, where I could spread the word and invite them to join our rally and testify during the hearing. If we wanted to be successful, we were going to need all hands-on deck.
One week before special session
There were so many moving parts to the work. It was a collective effort that wouldn’t have been possible without the help of volunteers, donors, supporters, and community partners. One of our organizers led a letter writing session for folks who wanted to send letters to their state senators. The 80/35 festival generously advertised on their main stage our ads for special session, recruiting festival goers. I reached out to community partners, including the Ankeny Democrats, to make Iowans aware of the threat to our reproductive freedom and our plan to stop it. Both new and old supporters reached out, offering a helping hand in any way we needed.
Iowans care about the bodily autonomy of their neighbors. They know that not everyone could access abortion outside of the Iowa border if it were permanently banned.
Since Planned Parenthood has supporters all across the state, we knew we needed the voices of all Iowans there. Transportation to the Capitol can be a barrier for those outside of the Des Moines area. So, we coordinated a bus route from Eastern Iowa to the Capitol. One volunteer helped recruit more than 30 additional people once we had transportation covered.
To reach our digital-savvy supporters, organizers and volunteers sent over 10,000 text messages, made 1,000 phone calls, and delivered more than 140,000 individual emails urging our supporters to leave a public comment on the bill and join us in the fight.
Planned Parenthood supporters, community partners, volunteers, and donors truly showed up for this fight. I couldn’t have been prouder of the community. We were ready for what was to come.
Day of Special Session
7:15 a.m. - 9:00 a.m.
After a week of mass organizing, July 11 finally came—we got to the Capitol at 7:30 a.m. and started setting up tables and coordinating volunteers and supporters.
Community partners, like NOSH, arrived to set up free coffee and food for our supporters. One of our Planned Parenthood champions, Rep. Jennifer Konfrst kindly opened her office space to staff.
By this point we were all filled with adrenaline—we hadn’t even gotten a chance yet to step back and really feel our emotions yet.
Inside the Capitol, over 1,000 supporters were decked out in pink shirts reading “No Bans Ever.” We started chanting and marching outside the doors of the hearing. Together, we made sure our voices were heard.
Supporters started rolling in—over 1,000 people came together to rally against the abortion ban. The turnout was incredible. Our focus was to make sure our supporters felt comfortable so they could take the lead and shine.
9:00 a.m.
The clock was ticking with just 30 minutes until the public hearing, the hall was packed with supporters waiting to enter. Over 50 supporters volunteered to share their story and allow themselves to be vulnerable in front of our legislators! It is not easy sharing intimate parts of your life in front of an audience of strangers. However, they knew the power of their stories and how impactful their voices were in advocating for Iowans’ reproductive freedoms.
9:30 a.m. - 10:30 a.m.
Once the hearing started, the community inside the rotunda felt betrayed. Iowans had an opportunity to leave a public comment ahead of the hearing. 96% of Iowans who left a public comment opposed the ban. Yet, they gave equal time to people testifying in favor of the bill.
Organizers and volunteers sent over 10,000 text messages, made 1,000 phone calls, and delivered more than 140,000 individual emails urging our supporters to leave a public comment on the bill and join us in the fight.
It was even apparent that some lawmakers had already made up their minds on the abortion ban, as if they were inconvenienced having to listen to their constituents.
Inside the Capitol, over 1,000 supporters were decked out in pink shirts reading “No Bans Ever.” We started chanting and marching outside the doors of the hearing. Together, we made sure our voices were heard.
11:00 a.m.
The rally started soon after the hearing.
We had a lineup of fierce speakers who amped up the energy of the rotunda and prepared supporters to fight for our rights. It truly was like a well-oiled machine the way the community stepped up to take care of each other.
Although it was a small minority, a few anti-abortion protesters tried to interrupt our movement. It was frustrating, but they didn’t succeed. Storytellers and supporters helped us redirect the anti-abortion protestors and block their hateful signs.
Our community was not having it.
1:30 p.m. – 11:00 p.m.
I looked over at the clock and it was time for debate in the Senate and House of Representatives. By this point, it was more blatantly clear how apathetic anti-choice politicians were. They didn’t even care about adding exceptions for children in the bill; they just wanted to carelessly rush to pass the ban and go home already. No child should have to carry a pregnancy against their will.
During the debates only legislators could speak. Planned Parenthood champions did not hold back. They fought fiercely in the debate room, urging their colleagues to understand the weight any ban would have on our community. Despite the growing maternal health crisis in Iowa—their colleagues didn’t care. It was disheartening.
11:00 p.m.
After hours of debate and 16 hours of non-stop fighting—our worst fear came true. The bill passed. My stomach sank. I could feel the rage and the heartbreak in the room. Iowans in the galleries were noticeably upset. Even though the public wasn’t allowed to speak in the galleries, some supporters took it upon themselves to shout as a last-ditch effort to make their voices heard. People were desperate—rightfully so—to make their voices heard, even if it meant getting escorted out of the gallery in the end.
The bill passage felt chilling. The fatigue from the blood, sweat, and tears Iowans put-in together to stop this bill from passing finally started to kick in.
Watching these legislators rush to pass a harmful bill was a gut-punch. The bill was passed in the span of less than a day—less than the medically unnecessary 24-hr period Iowans are mandated to wait before attending their abortion appointment.
These anti-abortion politicians know that the bill negatively impacts marginalized communities the most including Black people, Latines, low-income people, LGBTQIA+ folks, and rural people. Our community doesn’t deserve to hurt like this.
The fight for our rights continues
We suffered an incredible loss, but shortly after the bill was signed, a temporary injunction was approved by a judge—making abortion legal again until the Iowa Supreme Court hears an appeal. I was elated to hear that news. Iowans could get the vital care they needed once again.
But the fight is not over yet.
Watching these legislators rush to pass a harmful bill was a gut-punch.
Iowans are for sexual and reproductive rights. In fact, 61% of Iowans support safe, legal abortion. Yet, the majority of legislators in office voted against the will of the people. They have no right to ignore their constituents.
So, what do we make of this? Planned Parenthood will continue channeling the rage from special session to change the political tide and take our power back in the 2024 election. Our legislature should represent Iowans—not some cruel and religiously laced agenda.
Abortion rights are at stake in the upcoming election—again. Every small action, every new person who joins our email lists, every donation, and every person who votes is making a change.
Let’s send the anti-choice politicians packing. It’s time to make room for sexual and reproductive champions in office.
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