Until recently, abortion was illegal in Mexico. And yet, there were still women who desired abortions. And even if motherhood was not seen as a necessity of pregnancy, necessity remained the mother of invention. An underground network sprang up: Las Libres. Its mission: to help women obtain and use abortion pills without involving the authorities. It flourished right up until the day that Mexico legalized abortion. And now that Roe is under attack in the Supreme Court and many states are passing abortion restrictions, it’s flourishing again, as activists explore ways to do their work in the states.
Unfortunately, that work involves bringing controlled substances across an international border, a practice often referred to as drug smuggling. It’s a risky business, one that requires a sprawling network of operatives. And that may explain the cryptic ad that’s been showing up in the social media feeds of many liberal-minded American women. “Naturally, I ‘liked’ it,” says local activist Pria Natale. “Maybe that’s how they will know who to get in touch with. There’s the law, and there’s what’s right.”
Until recently, abortion was illegal in Mexico. And yet, there were still women who desired abortions. And even if motherhood was not seen as a necessity of pregnancy, necessity remained the mother of invention. An underground network sprang up: Las Libres. Its mission: to help women obtain and use abortion pills without involving the authorities. It flourished right up until the day that Mexico legalized abortion. And now that Roe is under attack in the Supreme Court and many states are passing abortion restrictions, it’s flourishing again, as activists explore ways to do their work in the states.
Unfortunately, that work involves bringing controlled substances across an international border, a practice often referred to as drug smuggling. It’s a risky business, one that requires a sprawling network of operatives. And that may explain the cryptic ad that’s been showing up in the social media feeds of many liberal-minded American women. “Naturally, I ‘liked’ it,” says local activist Pria Natale. “Maybe that’s how they will know who to get in touch with. There’s the law, and there’s what’s right.”
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