On the one year anniversary of the overturning of Roe v. Wade, Yellowhammer Fund is hosting a rally and launching our first-ever Reproductive Justice Bus Tour across Alabama
Yellowhammer Fund is ecstatic to announce that we recently purchased a bus and this summer we’re taking it on the road across the state of Alabama! The bus serves as a mobile unit for supply distribution of reproductive health items such as Emergency Contraceptives, condoms, pregnancy tests, period products, diapers, and more. Our goal is to increase access to our services and to make sure that Alabamians know about us as a resource, especially now that it’s been nearly a year since Roe v. Wade was overturned and abortion became illegal in Alabama and most of the South.
The bus has been fondly named the “Repro Raven” after our beloved Mia Raven, who was a founding board member and staff member of Yellowhammer Fund, as well as an avid abortion activist and one of our dearest friends. We honor all that she did to fight for Reproductive Justice in the South and this is one way we can continue the work that she cared so deeply about.
Along with spreading awareness about the work that Yellowhammer Fund does, we are also collaborating with allied organizations doing work on the ground at each of our stops. We know that people who live in the communities they serve know what their neighbors need and most importantly, have that mutual trust established. We want to uplift the work of other local grassroots organizations who are also working towards Reproductive Justice in Alabama.
“Post Dobbs Alabama has meant that we have had to get creative in the way that we reach marginalized folks in Alabama. Rural communities are often left out of movements. The folks living in these communities often get forgotten about with outreach and resources. They get discarded as Alabama does often as a lost cause in the South.” – Jenice Fountain, (she/her) Executive Director, Yellowhammer Fund
“Despite it being a full year since abortion was made completely illegal in Alabama, the state has made no efforts to improve insurance access, provide affordable birth control or support those who are pregnant. What the state refuses to do, we will do ourselves. West Alabama Women’s Center remains committed to ensuring every person has a safe, healthy birth when they are most prepared to do so by providing low-cost and free contraception, pregnancy verification, prenatal care and miscarriage management regardless of race, income or insurance status. Reproductive health care saves lives, and we will always be here to provide.” – West Alabama Women’s Center
“The Alabama Coalition for Immigrant Justice envisions an Alabama that values justice, nurtures equality, and protects the rights of everyone, regardless of race, gender, sexual orientation, religion, physical ability, or migratory status. As a coalition largely led by low-income and working class immigrant women, we believe in protecting our human right to choose whether or not to have children and the right to raise our children in safe and healthy environments. Many of us immigrated to the U.S. to protect these rights, and we are willing to stand up for reproductive justice for ourselves and all Alabamians. All of us deserve to make our own choices about our bodies, our families, and our futures.” – Alabama Coalition for Immigrant Justice
“United Women of Color stands firmly in support of reproductive justice principles. The ability to make informed decisions about when and if their families expand is essential to the health and prosperity of Black and Brown women. We find the racial inequities in maternal and natal health for Alabamians are unacceptable. United Women of Color empowers girls, women and their communities by uniting people across ethnicities to address civic and educational gaps for advancement. UWOC’s work includes career development, mentorship, voter turnout, and policy advocacy.” – United Women of Color
“The Community Free Store of Marshall County is a project of Reclaiming Our Time. Reclaiming Our Time is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization with a mission to advocate for racial and social justice as we work to eradicate poverty in order to form better communities. The Community Free Store of Marshall County provides free food, clothing, and hygiene products to our neighbors every week. Reclaiming Our Time is thrilled to be a part of the Yellowhammer Fund Bus Tour. We know that access to reproductive products are not easily accessible to those marginalized by poverty so we’re excited for the opportunity to be a bridge for the Yellowhammer Fund to provide health and wellness products to our community.” – Reclaiming Our Time
The tour kicks off on Sat. 6/24 – the one year anniversary of Roe v. Wade being overturned. We plan to host a F*** Your Abortion Ban rally for folks to gather in solidarity and learn about health care resources in our state. Local organizations will be sharing about the work that they do and how rally attendees can plug in, volunteer, and stay connected. And the Repro Raven bus will make its official debut there so you don’t want to miss that!
Click this link to support the Bus Tour and Yellowhammer Fund’s ongoing work
The Repro Raven summer 2023 bus tour schedule is as follows:
- 6/24 – F*** Your Abortion Ban rally: 11am at Linn Park in Birmingham
- 7/8 – partnering with: West Alabama Women’s Center in Tuscaloosa
- 7/15 – partnering with: Alabama Coalition for Immigrant Justice in Irondale
- 7/22 – partnering with: United Women of Color in Huntsville
