A message from Women’s Health Specialists Executive Director.

A message from Women’s Health Specialists Executive Director.

Friends,

For five decades our leaders, our staff and our communities have brought comprehensive reproductive health care to Northern California. We remain unshakable in our commitment to liberation and self-determination, regardless of who is currently in office.

Our herstory shows us that committed women and those who support them made — and still can make — a huge difference in thousands of people’s lives.

We hold 50 years of power and community building from the ground up. We will not fall victim to the whims of the power-hungry, settler colonial, racist, misogynist, 2SLGBTQ+ transphobic fascists who are determined to tell us who we can and can’t love, who is legal and who is not legal, what we can’t do with our bodies… and we resist these fascists’ focus on starting, maintaining and expanding forever wars instead of investing in our people’s needs — our neighborhoods, our livelihoods, our health care, our food supply, our housing and our education.

President Trump just pardoned almost two dozen anti-abortion extremists convicted under the federal Freedom of Access to Clinic Entrances (FACE) Act). This outrageous move, aimed at dismantling the protections for individuals obtaining and/or providing reproductive services, will not deter WHS from providing abortions — in fact, it will serve only to strengthen our resolve.

We are partnering with the Feminist Majority Foundation (FMF) to train staff and volunteers in clinic defense so we will know our rights, and have more tools to help protect our patient communities and to document anti-abortion harassment, intimidation, and violence.

Despite the current administration’s efforts to instill fear and disinformation in our hearts and minds, we will continue to pave a way for each of our peoples to thrive and to achieve their reproductive goals free of judgment and/or shame.

Together, community and clinic on the front lines for our lives, we win — and our vision to protect and continue abortion access in rural Northern California and beyond will prevail. Donate to WHS and support our work.

In solidarity and love for women’s rights and power,
Katrina Cantrell
Executive Director
Women’s Health Specialists/ Chico Feminist Women’s Health Center