NWLC Reacts to Trump’s Anti-Abortion Extremist Pardons and Big Tech’s Role in Abortion Access Censorship
WASHINGTON, D.C. (January 24) – Within days of retaking office, President Trump and his allies are beginning to target abortion providers and patients.
On the eve of the “March for Life,” Trump issued pardons to nearly two dozen people convicted of federal civil rights offenses for using physical force to block access to and invade abortion clinics and hounding, threatening, and injuring clinic staff and patients — giving a free pass to extremists who deliberately interfered with people seeking essential health care. This will likely embolden future conduct, putting the safety of providers and patients at serious risk.
At the same time, Instagram and Facebook have blurred, blocked, or outright removed posts from abortion pill providers, suspended accounts, and hidden these providers from search and recommendations. This is despite the fact that the leader of those platforms, Mark Zuckerberg, whined just days ago about the heavy hand of censorship.
In response, Fatima Goss Graves, president and CEO of the National Women’s Law Center (NWLC), issued the following statement:
“We knew the moment Donald Trump regained power that he would resume an all-out war on our fundamental right to control our bodies, lives, and futures, and he’s doing exactly that with lightning speed and audacity. Within 24 hours, he has openly sided with dangerous extremists by pardoning people who threatened patients and providers. Now, we see Big Tech — led by Facebook CEO and Trump ally, Mark Zuckerberg — going all in on boosting this administration’s oppressive agenda by censoring abortion pill providers and further restricting access to essential health care.
Let’s be clear: this is not random. These are deliberate, coordinated efforts to intimidate, silence, and deny people their rights. They are also sending a dangerous message that Trump’s supporters are above the law. We simply cannot have a democracy when the rule of law does not apply to your political supporters and is weaponized against those who disagree with you.
We’re witnessing the beginning of a deeply insidious, calculated campaign to strip us of autonomy, dignity, and access to essential health care, and we will not stand for it. NWLC will fight this dangerous pattern every step of the way, including those who serve as accomplices on this campaign against our rights.”