Today marks what would have been the 50th anniversary of Roe v. Wade.
Last May, when we first learned of the Supreme Court’s leaked decision, we knew that we would face many challenges on the road ahead. Many of us were afraid of what the repeal would mean for our families, friends, and the future of the gender justice movement. Some of those fears have been realized in the passage of legislation restricting access to abortion and reproductive justice.
But we keep coming back to a moment from our 2022 Gala when Alexis McGill Johnson—our honoree and president and CEO of Planned Parenthood Federation of America and the Planned Parenthood Action Fund—reflected on her own experiences as an advocate for reproductive justice:
“Freedom is a practice.”
Over the past several months since the formal repeal of Roe v. Wade, we have witnessed firsthand the surging momentum built by advocates, activists, and everyday people to champion a future that truly centers on safety and autonomy. At Sakhi, we’re deepening our roots in the community and reflecting on our commitments to each other and survivors. At a time when uncertainty hangs thick in the air, we find it necessary to return to ourselves and let our experiences and emotions guide us.
There is so much work to be done—and we’re thankful we get to do it together.
We at Sakhi hope you find moments of peace and hope as we look ahead to what this year has in store for us.