Roe’s Final Hours in One of America’s Largest Abortion Clinics and the National Impact of the Fall of Roe
In Houston, a day of dismay, confusion, and dread followed the Supreme Court decision that ended the constitutional right to abortion. At seven o’clock on Friday morning, Ivy turned on the lights of the Houston Women’s Clinic, the largest abortion provider in the state, where she has worked as a supervisor for nearly two decades. Since May, when the draft of a Supreme Court decision leaked, revealing its conservative majority’s intention to overturn Roe v. Wade, Ivy went to work each day knowing that it might be her last. Only Ivy’s message to her patients had changed; now every greeting had to come with a disclaimer. A ruling on Roe v. Wade was imminent and the procedure could be banned at any time, Ivy would warn the pregnant women who approached the front desk, after the perfunctory good mornings.
The Moment of the Supreme Court Decision
As the morning progressed, despite Ivy’s warnings, only a few women at the front desk seemed to register that their access to abortion was in jeopardy. One by one, women were called into the back of the clinic to receive their ultrasounds and counselling sessions. But at 9:11 A.M., before the doctor had walked through the door and any abortions had commenced, Sheila, who directs the clinic, heard from an A.C.L.U. lawyer. “Roe, overturned,” she said flatly. Moments after learning that the Supreme Court had overturned Roe v. Wade, Ivy walked to a nearby room and pressed her fingers to her eyes, fighting back tears.
The Rise in Demand for Abortion Support
Following the decision, the landscape of reproductive healthcare shifted drastically. Executive Director Diana Parker-Kafka noted that “As soon as Roe fell on June 24, our hotline received four times as many callers as it did the week before.” Suddenly, millions of people in this country had their right to bodily autonomy stolen from them. The Midwest Access Coalition (MAC), a nonprofit formed in 2015 that financially supports Midwesterners who travel for abortion care, reported a significant surge in their client base.
Statistical Overview of Abortion Access Support:
- Total Clients in 2021: 800 clients.
- Total Clients in 2022: More than 1,600 clients (doubled after the fall of Roe).
- Geographic Reach: Clients served from every state in the Midwest, plus 17 states outside the Midwest.
- Hotline Volume: Received four times as many callers immediately after June 24.
Logistical Barriers and Travel Challenges
The overturn of Roe v. Wade has created immense hurdles for those seeking care. Because so many states and abortion clinics have shuttered their doors or access to abortion care, clients are now shopping for the earliest appointment available because most clinics are booking two to three weeks out. “It’s just causing multiple delays, multiple travel trips and lots of money to get people the care that they need,” said Alison Dreith, director of strategic partnerships.
According to the end of year report, the top five states clients traveled from were:
- Wisconsin
- Illinois
- Indiana
- Ohio
- Texas
It really feels like now most of our clients are Southerners traveling to places like Illinois and Kansas and Minnesota for care. For example, Texans are having to travel to states such as Minnesota instead of Illinois because of appointment availability. In the 100 days following the fall of Roe, Planned Parenthood of the St. Louis Region and Southwest Missouri launched the first Mobile Abortion Clinic to provide care in the Midwest, yet the challenges remain for those navigating travel, lodging, and appointments.