News & Perspectives

"The Bans Off Abortion Rally is really for us to stand together against the Supreme Court's decision to take away our freedom. This is the first time we've lost a constitutional right, so not only is it unprecedented, it's outrageous. Generations before us, thousands of women fought tirelessly to ensure we had the right to abortion so now its our turn to fight to protect that right," said Nichole Ramirez, Senior Vice President of Communications and Donor Relations, Planned Parenthood of Orange & San Bernardino Counties. 

“We’re not backing down,” said Nichole Ramirez with Planned Parenthood of Orange & San Bernardino Counties, which organized the Santa Ana rally. “Generations before us have been fighting for the right to safe, legal abortions, and they’re rightfully upset that they have to do this again. So, we feel like it’s our turn now to fight.”

Tens of thousands of people are expected to take to the streets and gather in parks across Southern California on Saturday, May 14, for rallies organized in support of reproductive rights. Many of the “Bans Off Our Bodies Abortion Rally” events were planned even before the May 2 leak of a draft Supreme Court opinion indicating justices plan to undo federal protections around abortion access that have existed for half a century under Roe v. Wade...

Last week, a 26-year-old mother from El Paso arrived at the Planned Parenthood Health Center in Orange for an abortion. She had left her children with her sister, gotten in her car after work and driven through the night to reach the clinic. “That is a 750-mile drive — for a five-minute procedure,” said Dr. Janet Jacobson. “Those stories are no longer unusual for us.”

Planned Parenthood of Orange & San Bernardino Counties Senior Vice President of Communications and Donor Relations Nichole Ramirez speaks to KTLA on the expected influx of out-of-state patients seeking abortion care in California.

“Are we ready? 100 percent. Our doors are staying open, and we are ensuring care for everybody,” Ramirez said. “Can we use support? Absolutely. We can use all the help we can get.”

Two years after staff from the corporate office moved into Planned Parenthood of Orange & San Bernardino Counties’ (PPOSBC) newly purchased headquarters at 801 E. Katella Ave., the organization celebrated with...

More abortions and more people casting votes in November. Also, more outrage and frustration. All of those disparate trends and emotions could come to Southern California if the Supreme Court overturns or severely limits Roe v. Wade, the 1973 decision that guaranteed a federal constitutional right to an abortion...

Sadaf Rahmani, who oversees public affairs for Planned Parenthood of Orange and San Bernardino Counties, said the organization had been working to raise awareness about the potential vulnerability of Roe vs. Wade in the hands of a conservative-majority Supreme Court...