It is a dark day in our nation's history. Roe v. Wade was overturned by the Supreme Court, ending the right to legal abortion in the United States for the first time in nearly 50 years.

President Joe Biden called it a "solemn moment" in his address to the nation immediately following the decision.

"They did not restrict, they simply took away. This landmark trial protected a woman's right to choose and reaffirmed a fundamental principle of our quality." Now that Roe is gone, I want to be clear: the health and lives of women in this country are at risk."

The Supreme Court's decision affects women's access to safe and confidential abortion and severely limits reproductive rights, equitable health care, and data privacy. Leading U.S. voices on women's equality took to social media to express their staunch opposition to the Supreme Court's decision and portray the far-reaching implications of this ruling for all Americans.

Former first lady Michelle Obama was the first to speak out, pointing to a time when women had to lose their lives by undergoing illegal abortions. She said, "Our mothers, our grandmothers, our great-grandmothers went through this. [She went on to highlight her concern for teenage girls, mothers who had nonviable pregnancies, and health care workers dedicated to reproductive rights. This is a moment that the next generation must seize," she added. This terrible decision will have devastating consequences and should serve as a wake-up call, especially to the young people who will bear the burden. If you give up now, you will inherit a country that will not resemble you or any of the values you believe in."

Former President Barack Obama echoed her thoughts. In a joint statement, the Obamas made it clear that now is the time to take action: "Join activists who have been sounding the alarm about abortion access for years."

Officials like Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez wrote that the decision is literally a matter of life and death and will hurt low-income families the most. She wrote, "Overturning Roe and making abortion illegal will never make it go away. It will only make it more dangerous, especially for the poor and marginalized. People will die because of this decision. And we will never stand still until abortion rights are restored in the United States."

Congresswoman Cori Bush has spoken out against far-right extremism, emphasizing that "abortion care is medical care." Your racist, sexist, and classist rulings will not stop us from accessing the health care we need."

"Keep hope alive. Don't give in to despair," tweeted Senator Elizabeth Warren, D-Massachusetts. In the wake of last month's Supreme Court leaks, officials have shown the way to fight back for Marie Claire.

Other leaders are focused on action, not just holding the Supreme Court accountable for this outcome.

Alexis McGill Johnson, CEO and president of Planned Parenthood, noted via social media: "The Supreme Court has now officially given politicians permission to control what we do with our bodies. .

Meanwhile, women's rights activist and journalist Gloria Steinem supported the message of #BansOffOurBodies: "Banning abortion does not eliminate the need for abortion.

Women's advocates were equally vocal, with Reshma Saujani, founder of Girls Who Code and Marshall Plan for Moms, noting via Twitter that this is the second blow from the Supreme Court in two days. (On Thursday, it struck down a New York law restricting the carrying of guns in public.) "Overturning Roe was never about women and children, it's about controlling our lives and bodies. If they really cared about us and our children, they would make access to abortion care easier. They would have paid leave, universal health care, and affordable child care. 0]

As Biden pointed out in his speech, this decision is a deliberate effort that spans decades. Saujani elaborates on this point and suggests a step of action: "The anti-choice movement has spent decades building up to this moment. The anti-choice movement has spent decades building up to this moment. Not only at the state and national level, but also at the local level. We must do the same. Run for office. Run for school boards. Let's think locally.

Some CEOs of corporations and high-tech startups have announced that they are prioritizing the health and well-being of their employees by ensuring access to benefits. Lauren Hobart, CEO of Dick's Sporting Goods (open in new tab), announced in a LinkedIn post that the company is specific about how it supports its employees: "If access to abortion is restricted in the state where a teammate lives, Dick's Sporting Goods will provide up to $4,000 for travel expenses to the nearest location where abortion care is legally available. This benefit is provided to teammates, spouses, dependents, and one support person who are covered by our medical insurance.

Daphne Delvaux, a California-based trial lawyer specializing in women's rights and workplace discrimination, expressed pure outrage: "Judges accused of sexual assault wrote rulings that control women's bodies. A country with no paid leave, no health care, no childcare, no formula, no safe schools, is forcing pregnancies. There is no accountability or penalty for those who impregnate them. 6]

You don't have to be a lawmaker, a founder, or a powerful person to speak out. Some of the most powerful stories come from the grassroots. Nashville-based activist Adrian Wright illustrates this poignantly in his story of survival and healing from trauma, which he contributed to Marie Claire magazine. And Beth Silvers and Sarah Stewart Holland, co-hosts of Pantsuit Politics, write in an op-ed with a call to action, "Democracy always shows us the way forward, even when it feels like we've been thrust back into the past. And like our grandmothers, we must fight to change a system that excludes and denies.

Here are 10 organizations we can help today that we should support. If you need resources or services, here they are:

1. if you are in a position to, donate to @AbortionFunds, @KeepOurClinics, @IWRising. 2. 2. if you or someone you know needs an abortion, send it to ineedana.com (opens in new tab).

3. Learn about abortion pills at Plancpills.