The ongoing fight on reproductive freedom sparked a bold announcement from the state Capitol this week, with Gov. Gavin Newsom announcing California will be a sanctuary state for those seeking abortions if Roe v. Wade is overturned by the U.S. Supreme Court.
“We are looking at potentially tens of thousands of patients,” said Jodi Hicks, president of Planned Parenthood Affiliates of California. “California has already been impacted by the lack of [abortion] access throughout the country.”
All of the 108 Planned Parenthood clinics in California are now seeing an average of two to three patients a day from Texas alone, Hicks shared.
“I do expect there will be an increase in the amount of people who need our support, and there will be pressure put on the funds we have to support people,” said Jessica Pinckney, executive director of Access Reproductive Justice.