Anti-abortion ‘fake clinics’ exist in Mississippi. What they are and how to spot them.
The U.S. Supreme Court’s decision to strike down Roe v. Wade will likely mean abortions will end in Mississippi almost immediately because of a “trigger law” already in place. It requires certification from state Attorney General Lynn Fitch before going into effect.
When the Mississippi House of Representatives introduced House Bill 1510, “the 15-week ban,” it set in motion a law that, if upheld, would overthrow two of the country’s federal precedents upholding legalized abortions.
In addition to the trigger law, Mississippi currently has an unenforced pre-Roe abortion ban with exceptions for rape and protecting the life of the patient, according to the Guttmacher Institute who cataloged every state’s laws on the subject. Another law has been temporarily enjoined by court order. It is not in effect, but could take effect now that Roe has been overturned.
With the decision to uphold Mississippi’s law to ban abortions of fetuses 15 weeks or older, each state now has the right to ban or restrict abortions and Roe v. Wade — the 1973 case that made a woman’s right to choose a federal law — and Planned Parenthood v. Casey, a 1992 law that challenged provisions for a waiting period, spousal notification and parental consent for minors — have been overturned.
“Fake” abortion clinics
Jackson Women’s Health Organization is the state’s only abortion provider, but Mississippi has two “fake” abortion clinics — one in McComb and one in Bay St. Louis.
According to Planned Parenthood, fake clinics (often called crisis pregnancy centers) look like health centers but have a hidden agenda. The anti-abortion centers advertise free pregnancy tests, ultrasounds and counseling, but do not include abortion as an option.
The Reproaction Education Fund tracks anti-abortion clinics throughout the United States. The organization included the Women’s Resource Center (WRC) in Bay St. Louis in their fake clinic database.
The Women’s Resource Center, however, is based in Gulfport and frequently travels to Bay St. Louis in a mobile unit.
According to the WRC website, the center offers pregnancy tests, ultrasounds, prenatal and parenting classes, adoption referrals, post-abortion healing, medical referrals and resources like free baby food and diapers. The center’s site lists abortion as an option, but also says, “We do not provide or refer for abortions. If you are thinking about abortion, please get in touch with us before you make a final choice.”
These are signs that a clinic might be a crisis pregnancy center:
It’s listed online or on map apps as a pregnancy resource center, pregnancy help center, pregnancy care center, women’s resource center, or abortion alternatives.
They advertise free pregnancy tests, abortion counseling, pre-abortion screenings, abortion education, post-abortion care, or after-abortion help — but they refuse to help you get an abortion.
They advertise “abortion pill reversal” or say you can “reverse” an abortion. (This isn’t true — you can’t reverse an abortion.)
They say abortion is unsafe, or that it leads to cancer, infertility, or mental health problems. (This isn’t true — abortion is one of the safest medical procedures. The rate of major complications is less than 1%, and it’s safer than getting your wisdom teeth taken out. Abortion also doesn’t increase your risk for cancer, infertility, or mental health problems.)
They say abortion is illegal. (This isn’t true — abortion is legal in the US.)
They say negative things about abortion, birth control, condoms, or sex.
They don’t provide condoms or other effective birth control methods like the pill, patch, ring, shot, IUD, or implant — if they do offer birth control services, it’s usually only the fertility awareness method.
They try to pressure you into continuing a pregnancy, sometimes giving you baby clothes or small fetus dolls.
They try to talk about religion even when you don’t want to.
They say judgmental things about sex before marriage or LGBTQ+ people.
While they do not fit the definition of a fake clinic, Jackson Women’s Health Organization practices one of these signs provided by Planned Parenthood. Mississippi has a law that requires the clinic to tell patients abortions cause breast cancer despite research that has proven it doesn’t.
Mississippi laws that could prevent abortions
Mississippi is one of 12 states that has “trigger laws” in place that would ban or severely limit abortion access if Roe v. Wade is overturned, NPR reported.
In Mississippi, the trigger law goes into effect automatically after the justice’s decision and bans abortion outright, with the exception of medical emergencies like rape or incest.
Gov. Tate Reeves, a conservative Republican who is a vocal anti-abortion advocate, appears to support the overturning of Roe v. Wade.
“Countless lives can be saved!” he tweeted, also calling U.S. abortion laws “radical.”
Planned Parenthood has vowed to fight if the abortion law is overturned.
“We have been preparing for this. We’re ready for this fight. Abortion is still legal and we will continue to fight across the country — this will not stop us,” the nonprofit tweeted.
“Your body is your own. You and only you should control your personal medical decisions.”
This story was originally published June 24, 2022 at 12:24 PM.
