On September 30th, a Georgia court struck down the state’s six-week abortion ban. But less than 48 hours later, the state attorney general filed an appeal, asking the Georgia Supreme Court to reverse the decision and reinstate the ban. On October 7th, the Georgia Supreme Court agreed to hear the appeal and allowed the six-week ban to go back into effect while the appeal process unfolds.

For that one brief week, between September 30 and October 7, people were free to seek abortion care in Georgia until about 22 weeks of pregnancy (provided they could navigate the many other restrictions that predate the six-week ban and remain in effect – including a mandatory delay law, insurance discrimination, and the 22-week ban itself). Now we once again face a punishing six-week ban, even though we deserve so much better.

When someone decides to have an abortion, they should have full access to care that is timely, safe, and respectful, free from government interference or fear. The suspension of the six-week ban offers some relief for many needing care right now, but even this limited relief could vanish again when the state’s high court responds. What we need is lasting, comprehensive change: The Reproductive Freedom Act would repeal Georgia’s plethora of harmful abortion restrictions, expand access to timely care, and enshrine our reproductive freedoms into law — so that our health can no longer be caught up in legal limbo.

The recently reported deaths of Amber Thurman and Candi Miller are the real, devastating consequences of pushing quality care out of reach. Amber and Candi, both Black mothers of young children, lost their lives due to confusion and delays caused by Georgia’s restrictions on abortion care. The state Maternal Mortality Review Board concluded their deaths were preventable. Georgia has one of the country’s highest maternal mortality rates, and Black people are three times more likely to be affected. Government restriction on reproductive healthcare makes pregnancy more dangerous for everyone.

It’s time to end the restrictions and restore our autonomy. Georgians deserve no less. We need lasting, comprehensive change – we need the Reproductive Freedom Act.

Your voice is crucial.

We need bold, immediate action to secure reproductive freedom for all Georgians. Let your legislators know that we will not stop fighting until all abortion restrictions are repealed and reproductive justice is fully realized in our state.