The Quickie: The Fight for Abortion Rights in the Magnolia State

Welcome to “The Quickie” — Planned Parenthood Action Fund’s daily tipsheet on the top health care & reproductive rights stories of the day. You can read “The Quickie'' online here.

In today’s Quickie: fighting for abortion access in Mississippi, what’s at stake in the 2022 midterms, and beauty brands supporting PPFA! 

“MISSISSIPPI TAUGHT THE WORLD HOW TO ORGANIZE”: THE FIGHT FOR ABORTION RIGHTS IN THE MAGNOLIA STATE: Tyler Harden, Planned Parenthood Southeast’s Mississippi State Director, recently spoke with MADAMENOIRE about her reproductive rights organizing work in the state. Mississippi was among the first states to ban abortion after the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade in June; Jackson Women’s Health Organization, the independent clinic at the center of that case, was the state’s last remaining abortion provider. 

“Despite all of the challenges and all of the hardships, I love Mississippi,” Harden told MADAMENOIRE. “I know that for me, love has to be what I lead with. Black movement leaders left us a blueprint. Mississippi taught the world how to organize. People like Fannie Lou Hamer have left us with so much … knowledge that we can just tap into it every day. So, we can continue to teach the world again what it looks like to organize in places that people have written off.” 

Inspired by her family history and her own unplanned pregnancy, Harden and her Planned Parenthood Southeast colleagues work to organize, educate, and destigmatize abortion care, particularly for Black people in Mississippi. 

“So much of the history of our nation has been based on limiting the control and autonomy of the bodies of Black people and Black women especially,” Harden said. “[These] are some of the forefronts of the freedoms that my ancestors and other people didn’t get. So I’m going to fight like hell for them.” 

Listen to Harden’s full interview at MADAMENOIRE. 

WHERE ABORTION IS ON THE BALLOT: With midterm elections now less than one month away, Planned Parenthood Action Fund President Alexis McGill Johnson and EMILY’s List President Laphonza Butler joined WNYC’s The Takeaway to talk about what’s at stake–and where–following the Supreme Court’s decision to overturn Roe v. Wade. During the interview, they spoke about how abortion rights are driving an increased number of voters to the polls to vote for candidates and ballot initiatives that would protect access to care. On whether abortion has historically driven people to the polls, Alexis noted, 

“I think that conventional wisdom has been somewhat true, in large part because we had the constitutional protection that most Americans believed would remain the law of the land. That was obviously consistent for 49 years. The fact that opposition has been so systematic in really consolidating control and power all the way through state houses, all the way up to the federal judiciary and the Supreme Court, means that’s no longer a reality. I think what you’re seeing on the other side of that is really an animation and energy coming from voters who support abortion rights, who will show up very strongly this November.”

Listen to the full interview on WNYC. 

TODAY: PLANNED PARENTHOOD PRESIDENT TO ADDRESS FORTUNE’S MOST POWERFUL WOMEN SUMMIT: Later today, Planned Parenthood Federation of America President and CEO Alexis McGill Johnson will speak at Fortune’s Most Powerful Women Summit about how businesses can show up to the fight for reproductive rights. Tune into the livestream at 12:10 pm PT / 3:10 pm ET here. 

BEAUTY BENEFIT RAISES MONEY FOR PPFA: Last week, celebrity hairstylist Andrew Fitzsimmons partnered with beauty brands led by Khloe Kardashian, Halsey, and Shay Mitchell to create an auction benefiting Planned Parenthood. The Beauty Industry Auction includes makeup kits, merchandise, and masterclasses provided by 11 different brands. All proceeds will be donated to PPFA. In an interview with InStyle, Fitzsimmons highlighted the importance of public figures using their visibility to advocate for change:

“I believe everyone should have access to the medical care they need without restrictions, and so I wanted to create an initiative that would support this fight in a way that went far beyond what I could do as a single individual. When working together, the power of the beauty industry can be so impactful, and at this moment, we desperately need to come together to help protect people who can become pregnant.”

“Those of us with platforms have a responsibility to advocate for those who need it most, and right now in the face of this legislation, that includes reproductive rights. We stand with our industry peers against policies that limit people’s independence and their ability to make their own personal health decisions.”

The auction began on October 3, and will continue until October 20.