National Latina Institute Denounces Racist Anti-Choice Billboards

In a statement released today, the National Latina Institute for Reproductive Health strongly denounced the deeply offensive and racist billboard campaign by an anti-choice organization targeting Latinas. This organization said it will begin posting billboards in Los Angeles this week claiming that, “the most dangerous place for a Latino is in the womb”. Earlier this year, billboards targeting African Americans with a similar tagline were strongly criticized in the media and the public and ultimately taken down in response to the outrage.“These offensive billboards are nothing more than political ploys designed to stigmatize Latina women and communities of color and restrict access to reproductive health care.“The organizations promoting these ads are focused on sensationalizing unintended pregnancy and abortion care, and cutting even more women off from the reproductive health care they seek.“We should be doing all we can to support women making the best personal reproductive health care decisions for themselves and their families.“As the only national Latina reproductive health and justice organization, we are outraged by these condescending ad campaigns.  These offensive ads have no place in our communities.”Historically, racial and economic disparities limit quality health care options for Latinas and communities of color, including family planning services. Studies show that African American women and Latinas are more likely to be uninsured or underinsured and often lack basic access to birth control and comprehensive sex education due to fundamental structural inequities in society.
The National Latina Institute for Reproductive Health stands in solidarity with other reproductive justice organizations, such as Trust Black Women and California Latinas for Reproductive Justice in condemning this campaign and urges the swift removal of the billboards.
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