The Women’s Choice Clinic (WCC) of Oakland, a venerated feminist health clinic that has provided non-judgmental, culturally sensitive abortion and reproductive health care services to Bay Area women for 36 years, is closing its doors (press conference, Wed. April 8, Oakland City Hall, 1pm). The WCC is the oldest feminist health center providing abortions in the nation. However, it is not anti-abortion protests that are forcing the clinic to close, nor is it a decline in demand for services. California’s chronic low and slow reimbursements for MediCal services, and the current freeze on reimbursements is the culprit.

The Women’s Choice Clinic began in 1972 as an independent feminist women’s health clinic with a mission to provide quality affordable reproductive health care. In its 36 years the WCC served over 64,000 clients and until its close was seeing approximately 2,000 clients a year. The closing of the WCC is being mourned by community members, health and women’s groups alike.

“This is a wake up call for feminists old and young and anyone who cares about women’s empowerment, abortion services and health care,” said Rachel Jackson, community activist. "It doesn’t really matter if we have a pro-choice president when real women in need can’t access abortion services. We can’t sit idly by. The years of anti-abortion propaganda and the insufficient reimbursements from the state are strangling our community health centers and it has to stop.” Read more

Women’s Choice Clinic

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