With Donald Trump's recent victory projected to extend his presidency, concerns over abortion access and reproductive rights have surged across the United States. This election has triggered increased demand for abortion pills, with the top supplier receiving over 5,000 requests within the first 12 hours following the announcement of Trump's win. Rebecca Gomperts, the founder of Aid Access, highlighted this staggering figure, noting it outpaced even the numbers seen after the Supreme Court's decision to overturn Roe v. Wade back in June 2022. "We have an extremely streamlined process and we are capable of dealing with all the requests really fast," Gomperts confirmed, emphasizing the heightened awareness among the public about the availability of medication abortions and the potential threats they face under the new administration.
The alarming uptick wasn't isolated to Aid Access alone. Another telehealth service, Wisp, reported a staggering 300 percent increase in orders for emergency contraception, with Plan C's web traffic skyrocketing over 600 percent. On Election Day itself, abortion-related measures appeared on ballots across ten states, with seven states opting to expand abortion rights or to add protections for them directly to their constitutions. Still, this progress doesn't entirely guarantee safety for these rights, especially with Trump's previously stated intention to restrict access.
Trump's position on abortion has always been somewhat ambiguous. Just last month, during an interview with Fox News, he maintained, "a national abortion ban is off the table," but moments later remarked, "we'll see what happens." This uncertainty casts doubt on the future for abortion access as Trump prepares for his second term. During his first presidency, many argue he paved the way for the conservative majority on the Supreme Court, which led to the overturning of Roe v. Wade.
These developments have left many supporters of abortion rights feeling anxious and even fearful. Students at Brown University are expressing their concerns through activities and open dialogues. Some students reported feeling distraught and overwhelmed, as they deal with their hopes for the future of reproductive rights. According to reports from the Brown Daily Herald, voices from campus expressed collective anxiety, stressing how surreal it felt to witness the regression of reproductive health policies. They fear Trump's administration might result in diminished access to abortion services and contraceptives.
"I was shocked he won because it felt like we were progressing forward, and all of Trump's policies represent the opposite," articulated one leader of the Planned Parenthood student group. The students actively engaged and campaigned for various rights only to face this setback, fearing for their access to healthcare services.
The Brown College Democrats echoed this sentiment, expressing feelings of defeat through social media. Following Kamala Harris' defeat, they lamented the risks posed to reproductive rights and overall civil liberties under Trump's leadership. They commented, "A Trump presidency threatens progressive protections of reproductive rights, education, climate change, immigration, civil liberties and economic policy," highlighting just how expansive their concerns are.
Yet, amid fear lies resolve. Conversations surrounding abortion have catalyzed plans for proactive measures on college campuses. Faculty and students are collaborating to advocate for the availability of abortion services on campus and the distribution of abortion pills, with hopes of alleviating the burden on local health service providers and students who may need assistance from neighboring states with more restrictive laws.
“We have a consistent dedication to providing health services to students on campus so they can experience optimal well-being,” stated one coordinator for the Brown Sexual Health Awareness Group, pointing out their prior commitment to supply Plan B to students. "Our goal is to continue providing valuable resources and support to students during these uncertain times." Within this environment of uncertainty, many students and advocates remain determined to advocate for reproductive health resources.
Even as Trump moves forward with his agenda and supporters of abortion rights develop counter-strategies, the fight for reproductive rights continues. Amidst the chaos and fear, these champions are determined not to yield. The discourse around abortion access may evolve, but advocacy for rights isn't going anywhere.