#i-55

[tomorrowusa]

Billboards supporting women seeking abortions are popping up along I-55 heading north

"People make mistakes," says Queen, a Memphis hairstylist whose clients often confide those mistakes in her. [ ... ] Today, Queen says distance has become the biggest hurdle to getting the procedure in the southern United States. Hundreds of miles and multiple state lines can separate women from providers, which is why she's an enthusiastic proponent of a new abortion-rights billboard campaign along one stretch of rural Interstate 55 running across eastern Arkansas from Memphis, Tenn., to Southern Illinois. "Yes!" she shouts when she sees the first billboard, which reads "GOD'S PLAN INCLUDES ABORTION." [ ... ] The new billboard is one of six paid for by Seattle-based Shout Your Abortion. Its founder Amelia Bonow says this route in particular — leading to the only legal providers within hundreds of miles — needed a counterpoint to the billboards opposing abortion. "I-55 is just covered with these hateful, judgmental, shaming, intentionally traumatizing anti-abortion billboards," says Bonow of why the group focused on this segment of highway. Some anti-abortion rights billboards invoke the Bible. Others, like those placed by Minnesota-based Pro-Life Across America, have pictures of smiling babies and a phone number. [ ... ] "That's what these laws do," contends Bonow. "They don't actually stop people from having abortions, but they make people struggle in order to have abortions." Other Shout Your Abortion billboards say "Abortion is okay," and "Abortion is normal, you are loved." Some former abortion providers now offer what are called "navigational services." Ashley Coffield, CEO of Planned Parenthood of Tennessee and North Mississippi, says for some young clients living in poverty it's their first time ever traveling beyond the city limits. "We're handing out gas cards," she says. "We're making hotel arrangements. We're buying plane tickets, train tickets, bus tickets, whatever works best for the individual. We're meeting them where they are."

In the days of slavery Illinois was a North Star of freedom and featured many stops along the Underground Railroad. Since the Dobbs decision it has assumed a somewhat similar role for reproductive freedom.

Interstate 55 runs from New Orleans to Chicago. Illinois is the only state along I-55 which offers reproductive freedom.

Of course it's not necessary to go all the way up to Chicago for healthcare. If you are driving north on I-55, get on I-57 at Sikeston, Missouri and then exit I-57 at Illinois Route 13 westbound to Carbondale. Carbondale is the largest town in the southern tip of Illinois. It has several women's health clinics and a fully staffed hospital. It's also home to Southern Illinois University.

[addddison]

I-55 northbound to Memphis

[shootwithheart]

Driving Home

04.17.24

[anotherpapercut]

"summer is the worst" "no winter is!!!" actually both are. down with Big Temperature. spring and autumn for the win

[sticksandsharks]

I'm part of the ShortBox Comic Fair again, and this year I'm writing a story about a woman who marries a bird(??)

[theheadlesshearseman]

[glitterypin]

rare sighting of Nine and/or Twelve in Thirteen's body

[gundh]

[foolsocracy]

paradise island hang out

[formulanni]

bite, or get bitten

Tags: @st-leclerc @three-days-time @the-wall-is-my-goal @saviour-of-lord

[justc2world]

Papa Sainz posted this video. I can't do this anymore. Baby Carlos is so big now 😭😭😭

[crudeoildistillation]

I tried drawing more drivers and it made me realize my style is all over the place LMFAO

[potato-lord-but-not]

I know it just feels inhumane to lose this much

[romarisea]

George Seferis, tr. by Edmund Keeley & Philip Sherrard from, “Memory I.” [ID in alt text]

[theheadlesshearseman]