SCOTUS Has Just Made It Harder to Investigate Anti- Abortion Crisis Pregnancy Centers
Statement from Daniela Diaz, Senior Director Federal Policy & Advocacy at URGE: Unite for Reproductive and Gender Equity
The SCOTUS decision in First Choice Women’s Resource Centers, Inc v. Platkin creates a dangerous loophole which has a wide and lasting impact. By allowing anti-abortion crisis pregnancy centers (CPCs) to block subpoenas before they are enforced, the Court has made it harder to investigate CPCs and hold them accountable for intentionally spreading misinformation. Young people, especially those who are low-income, Black, Indigenous, and people of color are the primary targets of the deceptive tactics used by CPCs. CPCs harm pregnant people by spreading dangerous and misleading medical information, delaying access to healthcare – explicitly abortion care- and providing harmful, stigmatizing biased counseling.
Young people are looking for honest and accessible health care that honors informed consent that is free from misinformation at all times, though explicitly during pregnancy.
SCOTUS did not rule on the legality of CPCs, and we recognize that protecting the privacy of organizers and supporters is vital to the safety of all, even when we don’t agree on the issues. However, there is a clear distinction between protecting donor privacy versus protecting predatory practices. This ruling must not be used as a shield for organizations like CPCs that build their model on misleading people about their reproductive options and shame them for their decisions. Accountability is a requirement for justice, and more than six states distribute a large portion of their federal Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) funding to CPCs, including Ohio and Texas. The implication of yesterday’s decision is far-reaching as states across the country push to advance legislation that protects CPCs, uses taxpayer dollars to fund CPCs, and harms pregnant people seeking real support and accurate information.
URGE will continue to fight against CPCs as we have in Georgia through the Fake Clinics Suck campaign. We will continue to travel throughout our deep investment states, tabling at events, and advocating for the government to stop funding fake clinics. We will not let this ruling define what we know to be true: every person deserves an informed decision making process that is not plagued with misinformation regardless of pregnancy outcome.
