- Find a rally in Illinois near you.
- Follow Chicago Abortion Fund and Donate.
- Defend Abortion Access – Get Involved
MESSAGING GUIDANCE FROM DEFEND ABORTION ACCESS COALITION ILLINOIS:
DO use gender-inclusive language. People of all genders are impacted by abortion bans, not just cis-women. And people who are trans, non-binary, and gender non-conforming are disproportionately harmed by these laws.
DO center those most impacted by these laws: pregnant people, particularly Black and Latinx folks, people living in rural areas, and people with low incomes.
DO remind folks that while Illinois is a pro-choice state, we can not take this for granted. The RHA was a historic win in 2019, but one bad election cycle could change the environment here. We can not afford to be complacent.
DO call out these abortion bans for what they are: a deeply American problem. Avoid using terms like like the “Texas Taliban,” as this draws comparisons to Islam/Shariah Law and reinforces Islamophobia. We must use every tool at our disposal, but the only way we can win in the long-term is by acknowledging the white supremacist, heteronormative, patriarchal ideologies that have and continue to shape this nation’s laws.
DO NOT focus on the dangers of abortion, when possible. Patients are scared and we want to offer reassurance that Illinois’ abortion providers are here—no matter what. Imagery such as coat hangers can be alarming to people who are already worried about whether they’ll be able to access essential care when they need it and can unintentionally play into the messaging from anti’s — that legal abortion is also dangerous (it is NOT!).
DO highlight the broad coalition behind this movement to Defend Abortion Access in Illinois. This isn’t about any one organization — it’s about defending and protecting health care access for all.
DO encourage Illinoisans to use the #DefendAbortionAccessIL hashtag. This will help us track the statewide movement and share info, photos, etc.
Indivisible Illinois is driven by our antiracist values and fueled by the global movement striving to achieve social, economic and racial justice for all. Learn more here. Contact us at [email protected]
