June 24, 2022, the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade, the landmark legislation that made abortion legal for everyone in the U.S. The ruling nearly a year ago sparked a massive public outcry. After all, the decision didn't reflect public opinion — six in 10 Americans say abortion should be legal in all or most cases.
In response, an army of women spoke out and shared their abortion stories on social media. The actress Busy Philips launched the #YouKnowMe campaign, which aimed to show the public that many people —including some they know — have had an abortion.
“The statistic is one in four women will have an abortion before age 45,” she said on her show Busy Tonight. “That statistic sometimes surprises people, and maybe you’re sitting there thinking: I don’t know a woman who would have an abortion. Well, you know me.”
Phillips, who had an abortion at 15, later followed up on Twitter. "Let's do this: if you are also the 1 in 4, let's share it and start to end the shame. Use #youknowme and share your truth," she wrote.
Stories poured in.
"I was 21 and batshit terrified. All I felt was relief afterwards. And I was on the pill. Nothing is 100%. That's why we must have access to safe care," one woman wrote.
"I was 19 years old and in my second year of college. I knew I had degrees to finish. I had an abortion," another wrote. "I am a public school teacher in the Bronx. My life of service and activism might not have been. I’m grateful to have lived in New York and had access."