Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez uses Instagram to share abortion ban loopholes to help those in ‘red states’

Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez has responded to the overturning of Roe vs Wade by pledging her support to anyone in need within the United states that have already banned abortion.

Having originally shared a number of slides on her Instagram Story, she added them to her main page for permanence, as well as responding to a Twitter user who had called her out for “posting about how people can skirt abortion bans.”

“Yeah, and?” she replied, sharing a screenshot of the exchange and a slideshow entitled: ‘How people self-manage abortion using pills’. 

Her caption included a quote from Martin Luther King. “Live in a red state? I (and many New Yorkers) are here to help you get the care you need. Info is in Highlights on my profile. ‘One has a moral responsibility to disobey unjust laws.’ – MLK,” she wrote.

The slideshow, created by human rights organisation WeTestify, talks through obtaining ‘Plan C’ pills for pregnancy termination and how to use them safely, as well as addressing concerns about surveillance and fears of prosecution.

Adding her own comments, AOC wrote: “Mifepristone + misoprostol (otherwise known as ‘Plan C’) is a safe, effective way to end pregnancy under 11 weeks. Make sure you get them from a reputable provider, which you can find at places like PlanCPills.org.”

Of surveillance, she said: “It is possible that states who criminalise people who get abortions may begin to take advantage of digital surveillance to track people. You can protect yourself. There are basic steps you can take to protect your digital security. This is called OPSEC.”

She also shared a video on digital security, tagging the Electronic Frontier Foundation, adding: “Steps like using a VPN, throwaway email addresses, private browsers like DuckDuckGo, and prepaid debit cards are all important steps you can take to stay safe.