Abortion Care Network mourns the loss of Amber Thurman and Candi Miller

The staff and community of Abortion Care Network are mourning after learning of the deaths of Amber Thurman and Candi Miller. We offer our deepest condolences to their families, loved ones, and communities. We are holding their humanity in our hearts and minds, honoring the people they were, and refusing to give airtime to those who would use this moment to further restrict and stigmatize abortion.

Amber and Candi should both still be here. All they needed was timely access to standard medical care without the threat of criminalization — instead, Georgia’s abortion ban did what all abortion bans do — it delayed and denied necessary medical care, leading to the deaths of Amber and Candi. This is what we mean when we say abortion saves lives.

We want everyone to know that abortion care is still available and that many independent clinics offer confidential care following an abortion or miscarriage — even in states where abortion is banned or restricted.

We know that it’s incredibly difficult to research healthcare options when in crisis — so we hope you will take a moment now to learn more about the clinics near you and your loved ones:

• You can find abortion clinics at ineedanA.com
• Many clinics remain open to provide pregnancy-related care, even in states where abortion is banned completely; click here for a list of clinics that have remained open to provide reproductive care.

We can’t say it any more clearly than ACN member clinic, Feminist Women’s Health Center in Atlanta: “These women did not die because of the medications they took. They died because of the gross negligence of the providers they sought for help. They died because of the confusing and ambiguous language included in the law. They died because of fear of criminalization — both their own in the case of Candi Miller, who suffered at home because she was afraid to seek care under the confusing abortion law, and that of the healthcare providers who refused to act on Amber Thurman’s behalf. They died because the State of Georgia has demonstrated that the assertion in its state constitution that, “Protection to person and property is the paramount duty of government and shall be impartial and complete. No person shall be denied the equal protection of the laws,” did not fully extend to these Black women. ”

The harms of reproductive oppression in the United States fall hardest on Black women, who are disproportionately criminalized for pregnancy outcomes and three times more likely to die from pregnancy-related causes compared to White women. Reproductive Justice leaders have long warned that banning and restricting abortion would lead to loss of lives and leave families without their parents. Now, an entire movement is grieving the loss of these two mothers: Black women from the South who needed but were not able to access timely, routine healthcare because of abortion bans and the threat of criminalization.

Abortion is extremely safe. Medication abortion is safe, the compassionate care provided in clinics is safe, and self-managed abortion is safe — it’s bans, restrictions, and criminalization that are dangerous. Bans limit our options, bans keep people from getting the care they need, and bans cause confusion and chaos.

This is all by design and this could all be different. No abortion ban is ethical, and exceptions are not enough — we will not compromise when it comes to our lives and our families. We are grateful to be a part of a network of independent clinics, abortion funds and practical support organizations, advocates, legal experts, storytellers, researchers, artists, and others working to make sure every person who needs abortion and pregnancy-related healthcare can get the support they need.

This is the world Abortion Care Network is committed to building. We are heartbroken and enraged over the needless loss of Amber and Candi — but we remain dedicated to building toward a future in which every person can get the safe, compassionate reproductive care they need.

You can learn more about Amber and Candi’s stories here:

• Abortion Bans Have Delayed Emergency Medical Care. In Georgia, Experts Say This Mother’s Death Was Preventable.
• Candi Miller Died Afraid to Seek Care Amid Georgia’s Abortion Ban.

If you’d like to get involved or take action:

Join SisterSong and their community for a Vigil and Rally for Amber Thurman and Candi Miller on September 28th at 2 PM EST at the Georgia State Capitol; you can RSVP for the Vigil/ Rally here.

Health care services, support, resources, and tools are still available to people who need abortion and pregnancy-related care — no matter where they live.

• To find an abortion clinic in the US, go to ineedana.com; information on abortion funds, state laws, and other resources can be found there.
• If you are pregnant and want to talk through your options, call the All-Options talkline at (888) 493–0092.
• If you need assistance managing a miscarriage or abortion, call or text the M+A Hotline at (833) 246–2632.
• If you need legal support around pregnancy, miscarriage, birth, or abortion, call the Repro Legal Helpline at (844)-868–2812