Thread by @ElizNash

#BREAKING The #Oklahoma governor just signed a *total* abortion ban with a Texas-style enforcement mechanism. It goes into effect immediately making Oklahoma the first state to totally outlaw abortion since #RoeVWade in 1973. What this means 🧵

The impact will be disastrous for Oklahomans. It will also have severe ripple effects, especially for Texas patients who had been traveling to OK in large numbers after the TX 6-week abortion ban went into effect in September.

Some basic stats. In Oklahoma there are:

* 5 abortion providers (as of yesterday, they can no longer provide abortion care)

* 890,000 women aged 15-49 (plus people who can become pregnant who don’t identify as women)

* 4,780 abortions obtained in 2017

When #Texas banned abortion at 6 weeks last September, we saw the impact on access. Texas patients not only went to adjoining states like Oklahoma, but across the country including the East and West coast.

This means limited access and delayed access to care everywhere and for everyone. Clinics have made all space available and still patients cannot get an appointment for an abortion for 3 or 4 weeks. New state restrictions & logistical challenges mean some may not get care at all.

Oklahoma and Texas are the tip of the iceberg. We estimate that 26 states are certain or likely to ban abortion if abortion rights are overturned. And the Supreme Court is poised to overturn #RoeVWade in the next few weeks.

If you haven’t been engaged, this is the time to step up and understand that states are going to ban abortion. Bans will come quickly and patients and the providers, abortion funds and others who serve them all need our help. Everyone's access to abortion is on the line.