Dear Friend,

A reproductive health care desert lines the western U.S.

From North Dakota to Arizona, from Wyoming to Nevada, abortion bans
prevent people from accessing the choices they need. It’s a desert that
encompasses thousands of square miles -- and it’s incredibly important
that California remain an abortion sanctuary for anyone needing us.(1)

Those seeking an abortion are often in the middle of a health or personal
crisis, and the last thing they need in California is to be directed to a
fake health clinic that will lie to and shame them in order to prevent
them from receiving care.

But that’s what is happening to thousands of people when they search for
abortion services in California -- they’re being directed to so-called
“crisis pregnancy centers” that pretend to provide reproductive care but
actually don’t even employ medical professionals. We need to put a stop to
this practice.

[ [link removed] ]Will you donate to help stop Google from running ads for fake health
clinics?

Every day, tens of thousands of people search Google for abortion care and
end up seeing results for crisis pregnancy centers that claim to provide
abortions. But instead, these clinics are full of “counselors” who tell
patients lies, including that their abortion will cause cancer, that their
relationship with their partner will fall apart, and that they may never
be able to have children again after the abortion.(2)

They even put patients through invasive ultrasounds and string them along
until they’re past the point of being able to terminate their pregnancy
safely. These clinics’ manipulation tactics are so successful that less
than half of people who are tricked into visiting them have an
abortion.(3)

Google has made $10.2 million from these ads in the last two years
alone.(4)

We need to shut down the ability of these centers to trick patients
through Google searches. So here is what we’re doing:

* We’re using our special social media tool to help our 1.4 million
members create personalized posts asking friends and family to tell
Google to stop selling these ads.
* We’re lobbying the California Legislature to put stronger restrictions
on these fake clinics and how they are able to advertise.
* We’re educating as many people as possible about crisis pregnancy
centers to encourage people in their communities to shut them down.

This is the front line for the battle for reproductive rights, and we need
to stop these fake clinics from deceiving vulnerable people.

[ [link removed] ]Will you donate today?

Thank you for standing for reproductive rights!

–Irene, along with Angela, Annie, Isidra, Jen, Lindsay, and Scottie (and
the rest of the Courage team)

[ [link removed] ]SUPPORT THIS CAMPAIGN

Footnotes:
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Courage California (formerly Courage Campaign) makes sure our democracy works for ALL of us by fighting corruption in California politics. We believe the solution lies in exposing and solving systemic problems through strategic organizing, enhancing coordination between progressive organizations, and mobilizing civic engagement from our communities, particularly voters of color, young voters, and self-identified progressives.

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