Bodies on the Line: At the Front Lines of the Fight to Protect Abortion in America - Hardcover

by Lauren Rankin (Author)As the courts betray us and our leaders fail us, only we can keep each other safe. In this powerful, empathetic look at abortion clinic escorting, "one of the most under-covered and crucial, lifesaving, rigorous forms of activism out there" (Rebecca Traister), Lauren Rankin offers real hope - and a real call to action for a post-Roe America. “Bodies on the Line is a story of the courage, hope, and defiance embodied by generations of clinic escorts and activists—and a timely reminder that the fight for safe and legal abortion has always unfolded not only in courtrooms and legislatures, but in our communities. With this book, Lauren Rankin answers the question posed by so many—‘How did we get here?’—and urges readers to be part of shaping the future of reproductive rights in America.” — Cecile Richards, former President of Planned Parenthood and New York Times bestselling author of Make Trouble "Bodies on the Line is an exciting history of clinic escorting. The people who do this work have helped shape access to abortion in America. While I wish this work and such a book were not needed, everyone needs to know this story and why it matters." — Dr. Jen Gunter, New York Times bestselling author of The Vagina Bible "You're used to reading about the abortion battle in the courts; Lauren Rankin's Bodies on the Line shows you that battle in the streets. With the bone-deep political commitment of an activist, and the keen historical eye of an archivist, Rankin shows how abortion clinics—and the sidewalks in front of them—became some of America's most fiercely contested public spaces. The stories that Rankin collects from five decades of clinic defense provide instruction, both in the dedication of the escorts and in the tactics they used to outsmart their opposition. Bodies on the Line edified me and enraged me—and it also gave me hope." — Moira Donegan, columnist at The Guardian Incisive and eye-opening, Bodies on the Line makes a clear case that the right to an abortion is a fundamental part of human dignity. And now that the Supreme Court has overturned Roe v Wade, the stakes facing us all if that right disappears have never been higher. Clinic escorts--everyday volunteers who shepherd patients safely inside to receive care--are fighting on the front lines by replacing hostility with humanity. Prepared to stand up and protect abortion access as they have for decades, even in the face of terrorism and violence, clinic escorts live--and have even died--to ensure that abortion remains not only accessible but a basic human right. Their stories have never been told--until now. With precision and passion, Lauren Rankin traces the history and evolution of this movement to tell a broader story of the persistent threats to safe and legal abortion access, and the power of individuals to stand up and fight back. Deeply researched, featuring interviews with clinic staff, patients, experts, and activists--plus the author's own experience as a clinic escort--Bodies on the Line reframes the "abortion wars," highlighting the power of people to effect change amid unimaginable obstacles, and the unprecedented urgency of channeling that power. Author Biography LAUREN RANKIN is a writer, speaker, and expert on abortion rights in the United States. Her work has been featured in The Washington Post, The Cut, Fast Company, Teen Vogue, Refinery29, NBC News, and many other publications. She spent six years as an abortion clinic escort in northern New Jersey and is a board member of A is For, a reproductive rights advocacy organization. She lives in Longmont, Colorado with her family.