Chicago Abortion Fund Stands in Solidarity with Floridians as State Supreme Court Upholds 15-Week Abortion Ban, Activating 6-Week Ban
Media Contact:
Eleanor Grano, Communications Manager, Chicago Abortion Fund
Email: eleanor@chicagoabortionfund.org (cc: info@chicagoabortionfund.org)
Phone: 312-219-1611
CHICAGO, IL – April 1, 2024
In a disheartening decision that has implications far beyond its state's borders, today the Florida Supreme Court has upheld a 15-week abortion ban, rendering an already fragile abortion landscape in the South even more precarious by activating the 6-week abortion ban that was passed earlier this year in April. Effective 30 days from today, the 6-week ban significantly hampers the accessibility of abortion care for people in Florida and across the South. This will continue to disproportionately affect vulnerable populations across the region: including young people, individuals experiencing intimate partner violence, undocumented immigrants, and those unable to travel across state lines. Since the Dobbs decision, CAF has already supported over 100 people from the state of Florida and more than 1,500 from surrounding states in the Southeast.
"Today's decision by the Florida Supreme Court exacerbates an already agonizing situation, with repercussions that will reverberate deeply in Illinois. At the Chicago Abortion Fund, we are devastated, outraged, and worried about what is to come. Illinois has managed the highest increase in abortions in the year following the Dobbs decision, while Florida had the second-highest. We anticipate that many Floridians, as well as people who are facing bans or restrictions in their home states across the Southeast, will now rely on our state to access the care they need. As we approach two years without federal protection for abortion care, the urgency for a sustainable solution to this public health crisis has never been more apparent. Independent abortion funds are working tirelessly to bridge the gaps in access for our callers, who confront prohibitive costs for appointments and associated travel, and experience stigma, fear, and misinformation. But we must be clear: our resources are stretched thin. Contributions have gone down as the need has only increased, and we are on the brink of having to turn people away for the first time in almost five years. We remain steadfast in our commitment to ensuring everyone has access to dignified, affordable abortion care, regardless of who they are or where they live. And we need immediate support to continue to do so," stated Megan Jeyifo, Executive Director at CAF.
In a significant development, the Florida Supreme Court approved the proposed citizen initiative amendment titled "Amendment to Limit Government Interference with Abortion" for placement on the November ballot. This decision, while separate, has the potential to enshrine abortion rights in the Florida Constitution, and we look forward to the people of Florida being able to make their voices heard in the fall.
In response to the alarming setback of the 6-week ban going into effect, CAF reaffirms its unwavering commitment to support those affected, not just within Florida but throughout the Deep South. "The Chicago Abortion Fund is extending its arms even wider to welcome our Southern neighbors who will be crossing multiple state lines for abortion care in greater numbers than before. We will continue to deepen our collaboration with abortion funds in the region and will lean on each other to care for people navigating these bans," said Meghan Daniel, Director of Services at CAF. "The CAF Helpline can be reached Monday through Friday at www.chicagoabortionfund.org/helpline or, for support in Spanish, at www.chicagoabortionfund.org/esp. We are open and here to connect people to the abortion care they want, need, and deserve, as we have been for close to 40 years."
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The Chicago Abortion Fund (CAF) isn't just an organization; we're a movement. For 38 years, we've been tearing down barriers to abortion care in Chicago, the Midwest, and beyond. We're not just providing funding; we're supporting our callers in accessing freedom, dignity, and autonomy.
CAF offers support for clients seeking abortions including, procedure funding, travel and related needs like childcare, emotional support and logistical expertise.The organization has relationships with 75+ abortion clinics across 12 states, and supports people nationwide. CAF has supported more than 18,000 clients since the Dobbs decision with over $5.4 million in aid.