Gm,
The Supreme Court overturned Roe v Wade on Friday, June 24th, 2022. The precedent, which had stood for 50 years, guaranteed a right to abortion in all 50 states. Now, abortion has all but instantly become illegal in 13 states, and many more will follow.
Nancy Pelosi read a poem.
The Four Thieves Vinegar Collective, an anarchist group who produces their own medicine, published a video on DIY abortion pills1.
Democrats sang “God Bless America.”
Twitter was a flurry of abortion fund resources, funds and on the fly activism. Pro-choice advocates planned demonstrations all over the United States.
Joe Manchin, one of two conservative Democratic senators who have consistently blocked the already inadequate Biden agenda, told us how shocked he was that the Supreme Court justices he voted to confirm actually overturned Roe.
This post was supposed to be about my experience publishing one thing a day for a month, but the world had other plans. I’m going to begin work on a larger piece—a true tableaux—about abortion access collecting all of the resources I can and maybe delving into a little of the history of how we got here.
For now, I come to you with solemn recommendations:
If you are capable of becoming pregnant, whether you are a cis woman or one of the many trans or nonbinary identities that exist, I implore you to carefully guard your mental and emotional wellbeing during this time. The Democrats you elected have failed you. The men have failed you. The feminist movement has failed you. Society has failed you. You have every right to be upset, heart broken, and hopeless. Feel those feelings. But remember: you aren’t of use to anyone if you completely fall apart one day. Do the vital selfcare now so that you can maintain your life and your struggle. Audre Lorde wrote:
“Overextending myself is not stretching myself. I had to accept how difficult it is to monitor the difference. Necessary for me as cutting down on sugar. Crucial. Physically. Psychically. Caring for myself is not self-indulgence, it is self-preservation, and that is an act of political warfare.”
Do not give even one more penny to National Democrats. Pelosi, Newsome, AOC, Bernie—no one. Abortion advocacy groups need your dollars now if you have them to spare. There are people working all over the US to make abortions obtainable for those who now live in forced birth states. Support their efforts.
If the Democratic party is actually going to be useful it needs to be burned to the ground or replaced. Join your DSA, get involved, take to the streets. There are much smarter people than me with a plan—find them.
Humans tend to narrativize things, and I’m no exception. When I look at the past week, which has seen the gutting of gun control, the separation of church and state, and now Roe, and I see the continued calls for violence against queer people, especially trans people, I am tempted to believe that we are entering a Dark Age. A hard time. We will be fighting new, terrible battles for the rest of our adult lives. But this is why your light—yes your light, you reading this now—is so essential. The vastness of our task is overwhelming, but you must remember that you are not alone. Use the narratives that serve you. I am served by the idea that the Age of Darkness needs fighters to punch back. Look into your heart and ask what narrative you need to survive and fight back, and then believe in it.
With love and respect for all humankind,
Tommy
I cannot attest to the veracity of the Four Thieves Vinnegar Collective’s claims or expertise. Please exercise extreme caution when conducting any DIY project meant to create medicine.