“Obviously I’m going to keep doing this”: Two advocates for reproductive freedom in Louisiana on what keeps them going
Michelle Erenberg and Ellie Schilling co-founded Lift Louisiana to advocate for reproductive health, rights, and justice in their home state.
Since Roe v. Wade was overturned, their work has gotten harder — and they have grown even more determined to build awareness of the health crisis that has ensued as a result of Louisiana’s abortion ban.
“Louisiana is really the worst positioned state in the entire country, because we have states on all sides of us that have banned abortion, and people here are having to travel much, much, much further,” Michelle explained.
The friends and colleagues sat down to discuss what brought them to the fight for reproductive freedom, what keeps them going, and why — no matter how daunting the road ahead – they’re not quitting any time soon.
Michelle and Ellie’s conversation was recorded by StoryCorps Studios as part of Abortion in America’s collection of interviews with people in Louisiana about the ways in which the state’s abortion ban has affected their lives. This project was produced in collaboration with Glamour and the Newcomb Institute at Tulane University.
I don’t think that I ever think, “I don’t want to do this anymore,” because I feel like I have to do this. I mean, I’m living in Louisiana and I’m raising my daughter in Louisiana, so if I wasn’t fighting for my rights and her rights and all of our rights, it would be almost impossible to live here.
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