Nine Mothers. One Mission. A Movement.
StantonStrong began with a small group of mothers, a shared concern, and the conviction that reproductive freedom must be defended. Nearly a decade later, that fight is more urgent than ever.
How StantonStrong Began
In December 2016, following the presidential election, a group of nine mothers came together out of concern for what the future might hold. We came from neighboring towns, had children of different ages, and vastly different careers and backgrounds. Some were American-born, others foreign. Some were friends, and some were meeting for the first time.
We came from different points on the political spectrum, but one deep connection bound us together: a growing concern over the increasing restriction of access to reproductive healthcare across our country. We were aligned in our desire to protect the right to choose and to expand access to reproductive healthcare for all — especially those with less economic privilege.
Why We Chose “Stanton”
We named our organization StantonStrong in honor of Elizabeth Cady Stanton, a pre-eminent suffragist who lived in our local area of Tenafly, New Jersey, where many of our co-founders live.
Stanton was a trailblazer. She was a primary author of the Declaration of Rights and Sentiments, the first woman to run for Congress (before women had the right to vote), and an outspoken figure for women’s suffrage.
But Stanton was not perfect. She made many comments over her life suggesting she did not advocate for all women. We at StantonStrong strive to fight for all our sisters — regardless of zip code, income, or identity.
From Protecting Access to Fighting a Ban
When we formed, abortion was still legal across the country. The fight has changed dramatically since — and so has our work.
Access Under Siege
Even with Roe intact, state legislatures across the country quietly turned into anti-abortion bastions. Cuts to family-planning funding, the proliferation of TRAP laws designed to restrict access to safe abortion, and the appointment of anti-choice judges chipped away at reproductive healthcare any way they could.
Roe Falls. Dobbs Changes Everything.
The attack escalated dramatically with the appointment of three anti-abortion Supreme Court justices and the Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization decision — ending nearly 50 years of precedent and leaving reproductive rights to a patchwork of state laws.
A Patchwork of Bans and Resistance
13 states have banned abortion entirely. 11 more severely restrict it. The forced-birth movement is criminalizing abortion and pregnant women. The other half of the country is fighting back — and StantonStrong is part of the fight to codify abortion rights and expand protections in New Jersey.
Our Mission Is More Dire — And More Urgent
This new landscape disproportionately affects poor women, women of color, and women in rural areas who already faced significant barriers to healthcare. But economic status no longer protects anyone from these laws. Nobody is off limits.
The abortion bans, the criminalization efforts, the defunding of reproductive healthcare services, and the rampant disinformation campaigns are a coordinated and deliberate attempt to control bodily autonomy and force women to give birth.
We are joined and inspired by the resilience and determination of advocates, abortion providers, and organizations across the country — educating, mobilizing, and fighting for our sisters in every state. We remain committed to increasing access to reproductive healthcare for all people, regardless of zip code, income, or identity.
The Fight for Reproductive Freedom Needs You
Every dollar, every voice, every action matters. Stand with the StantonStrong movement and help protect reproductive healthcare access — in New Jersey and across the country.
Non-partisan advocacy protecting reproductive healthcare access through education, activism, and community action.
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