The following statement is from Brianna Brown, Co-Executive Director of Texas Organizing Project (TOP), in response to a story published Wednesday by ProPublica, shining a light on women with underlying health conditions in Texas who have died as a result of the state’s abortion ban:
“Tierra Walker should still be with us today, providing joy and comfort to her family and friends. Her passing sadly isn’t a flaw in the system; it IS the system.
“The disparities in maternal health outcomes for Black women in Texas and our country demand an urgent overhaul. Far too often it’s a literal matter of life or death, as Black women are three times more likely to die from pregnancy-related causes than white women – an appalling reality. This combined with our state’s total abortion ban shows just how dire conditions are for pregnant Texans.
“At TOP, we not only believe healthcare is a fundamental human right, we fight for it year-round through our healthcare justice organizing work centered on Black and Latino Texans.
“It’s through this organizing that we in conjunction with healthcare allies were able to pass HB12 in 2023 in the Texas Legislature, a law that extends Medicaid health coverage for mothers up to a year after childbirth ― a significant win for Black mothers.
“With healthcare justice as a priority for us, our goal remains clear: a Texas where all people ― regardless of their age, race, background, income, or gender ― have access to the affordable quality healthcare they need and deserve.”
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