RPENTER FOUNDATION, THE COLCOM FOUNDATION, AND THE CHARLES A. FRUEAUFF FOUNDATION.

>> Alexis McGill Johnson: PLANNED PARENTHOOD AT ITS CORE IS A HEALTHCARE PROVIDER, WE PROVIDE THINGS LIKE STI SCREENINGS, CONTRACEPTION, ACCESS TO GENDER AFFIRMING IDENTITY CARE, TRANS CARE.

WE AREb ÃÃWE ALSO PROVIDE ACCESS TO SAFE AND LEGAL ABORTION.

WE DON'T DIFFERENTIATE OR JUDGE THE REASONS THAT PEOPLE COME TO OUR HEALTH CENTER.

>> Bonnie: HELLO.

I AM BONNIE ERB.

WELCOME TO "TO THE CONTRARY".

THIS WEEK WE CONTINUE OUR WOMEN THOUGHT LEADERS SERIES WITH ALEXIS McGILL JOHNSON WHO CURRENTLY LEADS PLANNED PARENTHOOD.

SHE'S A SOCIAL JUSTICE LEADER WHOSE WORK FOR VARIOUS NONPROFITS AND BUSINESSES IN THE PAST.

WELCOME, ALEXIS.

>> Alexis McGill Johnson: THANKS FOR HAVING ME, BONNIE.

>> Bonnie: HAPPY TO.

WHY WOULD ANYBODY WANT YOUR JOB?

I SAY THAT HAVE JOKING, BUT THE DEATH THREATS, DEALING WITH CRAZY, YOU KNOW, VIOLENT PEOPLE WHO HAVE A LONG RECORD OF KILLING DOCTORS, USING GUN VIOLENCE, ETC., ETC.

WHY ARE YOU WILLING TO PUT UP WITH THAT FOR A CAUSE?

>> Alexis McGill Johnson: FIRST OF ALL, THIS IS AN HONOR OF A LIFETIME TO SERVE IN THIS WAY.

I'VE BEEN WITH THE ORGANIZATION FOR ABOUT 10 YEARS AS A BOARD VOLUNTEER BEFORE STEPPING INTO LEAVE THE ORGANIZATION.

AND I CAN GIVE YOU JUST FIRSTHAND THAT THE TESTIMONY TO THE WORK THAT PLANNED PARENTHOOD HEALTH CENTERS TO ADVOCATE DAY ACROSS THE COUNTRY, HELPING OVER TWO AND A HALF WILL MILLION END, AND HELPING FOLKS GET ACCESS TO THE BASIC SEXUAL AND REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH CARE.

THE SERVICES THAT ARE PROVIDED ARE SERVICES THAT TRANSFORM LIVES AND HELP THEM WITH THEIR BEST LIVES.

AND SO, YOU KNOW, WHAT OUR ORGANIZATION MAY BE FACING IS NOTHING COMPARED TO WHAT OUR PATIENTS ARE FACING EVERYDAY WHEN THEY MAKE CHOICES THAT REALLY EMPOWER THEIR LIVES.

IT'S AN HONOR TO SERVE.

>> Bonnie: TELL ME A BIT ABOUT THE WOMEN WHO COME TO SEE YOU.

WHAT IS IT ABOUT THE OPPONENTS OF THE PLANNED PARENTHOOD THAT YOU EITHER DON'T UNDERSTAND WHY THEY ARE OPPOSING IT OR DO NOT GET WHY THEY ARE SO VEHEMENTLY OPPOSED TO ONE SMALL ASPECT OF WOMEN'S HEALTHCARE.

>> Alexis McGill Johnson: WELL, YOU KNOW, I THINK HE FRAMED IT CORRECTLY.

PLANNED PARENTHOOD AT ITS CORE IS A HEALTHCARE PROVIDER.

WE PROVIDE THINGS LIKE STI SCREENINGS, CONTRACEPTION, ACCESS TO GENDER AFFIRMING IDENTITY CARE, TRANS CARE.

WE ALSO PROVIDE ACCESS TO SAFE AND LEGAL ABORTION.

>> Bonnie: AND WHAT PERCENTAGE OF YOUR PRACTICE IS THAT?

>> Alexis McGill Johnson: AS YOU SAID, IT'S A SMALL PERCENTAGET'S ABOUT 4 PERCENT OF THE WIDE RANGE OF SERVICES THAT ARE PROVIDED IN ANY HEALTH CENTER IN PLANNED PARENTHOOD.

>> Bonnie: WHY DON'T YOU DROP IT?

>> Alexis McGill Johnson: WHY DON'T WE DROP ABORTION?

BECAUSE OF ABORTION IS HEALTHCARE AND BECAUSE WE BELIEVE THAT.

THE FULL SPECTRUM OF SEXUAL AND REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH CARE INCLUDING ACCESS FOR PEOPLE TO MAKE CHOICES ABOUT THEIR LIVES, IT'S THEIR DECISION AND WE ARE PROUD TO SERVE THEM.> Bonnie: BUT WOULDN'T YOU MAKE -- BE MAKING YOUR JOB A LOT SAFER, MAKING THE CLINICS A LOT MORE ACCESSIBLE SO THAT THESE RELIGIOUS EVANGELICALS WOULD NOT BE THROWING THEIR BODIES IN FRONT OF CARS AND YELLING AND SCREAMING AT WOMEN WHO MAY JUST BE COMING IN TO GET EXAMS?

>> Alexis McGill Johnson: WE DON'T DIFFERENTIATE OR JUDGE THE REASONS THAT PEOPLE COME TO OUR HEALTH CENTERS.

AS I SAIDb ¦¦ >> Bonnie: SUMMER HARD TO GET INTO, RIGHT, BECAUSE OF PROTESTS BY THE RELIGIOUS RIGHT.

>> Alexis McGill Johnson: WE HAVE, I CANNOTOOD SECURITY, DILIGENT WORKERS WHO DO EVERYTHING THEY CAN TO MAKE SURE THE ACCESS TO OUR HEALTH SYSTEMS IS .

AFE.

AND SO YES, WELL, THERE ARE A HANDFUL OF FOLKS OUT, YOU KNOW, CONSISTENTLY IN FRONT OF MANY HEALTH CENTERS.

AND WHILE OUR HEALTH CENTERS DO HAVE TO BE ON GUARD IN CERTAIN AREAS, BY AND LARGE, THE EXPERIENCE THAT THE AVERAGE PLANNED PARENTHOOD PATIENT HAS GOING INTO A HEALTH CENTER IS ONE WHERE THEY ARE GREETED BY, YOU NO, SOMEONE WHO IS READY TO PROVIDE COMPASSIONATE CARE REGARDLESS OF WHY THEY ARE COMING IN.

THAT'S THE REASON WHY CAMINO, THE THREATS DON'T SCARE ME.

WE ARE REALLY FOCUSED ON THE BEST POSSIBLE EXPERIENCE THAT THE PATIENT CAN HAVE COMING INTO THE HEALTH CENTER.

>> ARE THERE ANY WOMEN WHO GET BLOCKED WHO DO TRY TO MAKE AN APPOINTMENT FOR WHATEVER KIND OF SERVICE IT IS THEY NEED AND CANNOT GET THERE?

>> Alexis McGill Johnson: YEAH.

A LOT OF OUR APPOINTMENTS ARE MADE TO CALL CENTERS, ONLINE, PLANNED PARENTHOOD IS CURRENT WITH THE WAY WE NORMALLY ACCESS HEALTHCARE IN THE COUNTRY.

AND SO, YOU KNOW, WHEN THEY MAKE THAT APPOINTMENT, THEY UNDERSTAND HOW COME YOU KNOW, THE BEST WAY TO GET INTO HEALTH CENTER, AGAIN, FOR MOST b ÃÃLIKE I SAID, 99 PERCENT OF OUR HEALTH CENTERS, IT'S A MATTER OF GETTING THERE, HOWEVER YOU WOULD NORMALLY DRIVE OR WHATEVER YOUR PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION WILL HELP YOU GET THERE, AND THEN YOU WILL BE GREETED BY SOMEONE.

IF THERE ARE PROTESTERS, WHO WILL HELP YOU NAVIGATE THE PROTESTED FIELD AND GET IN.

I MEAN, WHAT WE DO WANT TO TALK ABOUT OUR CAMINO, WHILE PEOPLE HAVE THE RIGHT TO HAVE FREE SPEECH AND ENGAGE IN THE CONVERSATION, YOU KNOW, TO VOICE THEIR OPINION ON AN ISSUE, THEY DO NOT HAVE THE RIGHT TO BLOCK ACCESS TO A HEALTH CENTER.

AND SO, WHERE WE NEED TO b ÃÃ PLANNED PARENTHOOD HEALTH CENTERS WORK IN CONCERT WITH LAW ENFORCEMENT AND SECURITY TO ENSURE OUR PATIENTS ALSO HAVE THAT SAME RIGHT TO ACCESS THEIR HEALTHCARE.

>> Bonnie: OTHER STATES WHERE YOU DON'T HAVE CLINICS BECAUSE OPPONENTS OF WOMEN'S HEALTHCARE HAVE SUCCESSFULLY BLOCKED YOU FROM OPERATING?

>> Alexis McGill Johnson: SO THERE ARE STATES WHERE THERE MAY NOT BE BRICKS AND MORTAR OR WHERE, WHERE IT'S DIFFICULT TO ACCESS HEALTHCARE, BUT WE ALSO SERVE OUR PATIENTS THROUGH PLANNED PARENTHOOD DIRECT, WHICH IS AN ONLINE APP THAT ALLOWS YOU TO CAMINO COMMIT DO THINGS LIKE HAVE A VISIT, OR YOUR BIRTH CONTROL, YOU KNOW, GET INFORMATION ABOUT b ¦¦ >> Bonnie: HAVE A VISIT VIA PHONE?

>> Alexis McGill Johnson: YES.

WE ARE WORKING ON KIND OF TELEHEALTH MODELS.

AGAIN, THIS IS PLANNED PARENTHOOD BEING CONSISTENT WITH HEALTHCARE PROVISION BROADLY THAT OTHER HEALTHCARE PROVIDERS ARE THINKING ABOUT, RIGHT?

WE HAVE TO THINK ABOUT HOW WE ENGAGE WITH OUR WORLD POPULATIONS TO ENSURE AFTER PARTICULARLY BEING FORCED OUT OF TITLE X LAST YEAR, IT IS CRITICALLY IMPORTANT FOR US TO THINK ABOUT HOW WE, AS THE LARGEST PROVIDER AND RECEIVER OF TITLE X FUNDING TO PROVIDE CONTRACEPTION TO RURAL POPULATIONS, HOW WILL WE CONTINUE TO HELP POOR AND FILL IN THE GAPS OF THOSE CRITICAL PUBLIC HEALTH NEEDS?

>> Bonnie: WASN'T AT A $450 MILLION A YEAR SOURCE OF FUNDS FOR PLANNED PARENTHOOD, TITLE X?

>> Alexis McGill Johnson: NOT THAT LARGE.

BUT WE WERE 40 PERCENT OF THE PROVISION, YES.

IT WAS A HUGE $450 MILLION OF THE TITLE X GRANT.

BUT WE SERVE 40 PERCENT OF THE TITLE X PATIENTS AT THE TIME.

>> Bonnie: HAS ANY OTHER ORGANIZATION BEEN ABLE TO STEP IN?

>> Bonnie: THAT'S THE IRONY.

EVEN IN ADVANCE OF THE TITLE X DEFUNDING, THE CONVERSATIONS WE WERE HAVING WITH OUR CONGRESSIONAL CHAMPIONS WAS CAMINO, THIS IS GOING TO MAKE SUCH, HAVE AN IMPACT ON THE PATIENTS THAT WE SERVE ANOTHER PROGRAM.

THERE IS NO ORGANIZATION WITH THE SIZE OR FOOTPRINT THAT THE PLANNED PARENTHOOD HAS THAT CAN ACTUALLY MEET THE NEED FEDERALLY QUALIFIED HEALTH CENTERS AND OTHER ORGANIZATIONS ALSO DON'T HAVE THE CAPACITY TO FILL THAT GAP.

WHAT THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION DID WAS ALLOW FOR ORGANIZATIONS THAT DON'T EVEN PROVIDE CONTRACEPTION TO ACCEPT TITLE X RESOURCES, AND I THINK THAT'S WHERE WE HAVE TO BE CONCERNED ABOUT, ABOUT THE USE OF SOME OF THESE FEDERAL FUNDS AND POLICIES IN WAYS THAT ACTUALLY DON'T MEET THE NEED INTENDED FOR THE PROGRAM.

>> Bonnie: EVEN THOUGH FEDERAL FUNDING FOR ABSTINENCE ONLY SEX ED CURRICULA WASN'T ORIGINALLY MUCH TO MY SURPRISE READING THE HISTORY ON IT, BECAUSE IT WAS DONE VERY SMALL WAY, BUT IT WAS DONE INITIALLY BY BILL CLINTON TO ALLOW TO PAY GROUPS THAT ARE RELIGIOUS GROUPS TO TELL KIDS DON'T HAVE SEX AND THAT'S ALL THEY ARE GOING TO SAY ABOUT BIRTH CONTROL.

IN BIRTH CONTROL b ÃÃBIRTH, TEEN PREGNANCY RATES SHOT UP AFTER THAT.

AND THEN OBAMA CAME IN, ROLLED BACK TO WHERE IT HAD BEEN UNDER PRIOR DEMOCRATIC ADMINISTRATIONS AND SEX ED CAMINO,, DEFUNDING FOR COMPLETE SEX ED PROGRAMS WENT UP IN TEEN BIRTHS REACHED ANOTHER RECORD LOW.

WHERE ARE THEY NOW?

>> Alexis McGill Johnson: I MEAN, HERE'S THE THING, RIGHT?

I MEAN, AND I APPRECIATE YOU REALLY FOCUSING, AS A RESEARCHER, FOCUSING ON THE IMPACTS OF THESE POLICIES, RIGHT, THAT WHEN YOU TELL YOUNG PEOPLE THAT THE ONLY, ONLY WAY TO CAMINO, TO NOT GET PREGNANT IS TO NOT HAVE SEX AND NOT GIVE THEM OTHER ALTERNATIVES, YOU KNOW, THAT MANY OF US RELY ON AND HAVE LEARNED ABOUT DURING THOSE YEARS.

WHAT YOU'RE RISKING IS NOT ONLY THE, YOU KNOW, ARISE IN UNINTENDED PREGNANCIES, YOU'RE ALSO LOOKING AT A RISE IN SSI RATES, RIGHT?

AND STDS.

SO THE CONCERN WE SHOULD HAVE ABOUT THE POLICIES, AND EVEN SOMETHING LIKE TITLE X WHERE WE SAW STATES LIKE NEW HAMPSHIRE DID NOT HAVE ACCESS TO, TO FUNDING OR INSTINCTUAL REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH, WE SAW INCREASED RATES OF STI!

THAT BECOMES A HEALTH PUBLIC HEALTH CRISIS.

SO WE HAVE TO THINK ABOUT THESE POLICIES, WHICH MANY OF WHICH HAVE BEEN TARGETED TOWARDS PLANNED PARENTHOOD AND OTHER PROVIDERS OF SEXUAL AND REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH CARE, BUT ALSO LOOKING AT THE ROLE THAT WE HAVE PLAYED IN HELPING REDUCE THE SAME THINGS THAT THEY SAY THEY CARE ABOUT, YOU KNOW, WHICH IS UNINTENDED PREGNANCIES IN CAMINO, AND STI.

SO IT'S KIND OF IRONIC THAT THE INTENT OF SOME OF THE POLICIES THAT HAVE BEEN PUT OUT JUST RECENTLY REALLY WILL HAVE THE UNINTENDED CONSEQUENCES IS THE PRINCIPAL FOCUSED ON PLANNED PARENTHOOD.

>> Bonnie: WHEN SONOGRAMS FIRST CAME OUT, AS A VIEWER OF THE HISTORY OF WOMEN'S RIGHTS AND WOMEN'S REPRODUCTIVE RIGHTS, IT SEEMS TO ME THAT THAT DID A GREAT DEAL OF DAMAGE AND SUPPORT FOR ABORTION, BECAUSE IT HELPED MAKE THE CASE FOR THE RELIGIOUS RIGHT THAT THIS WAS A BEATING HEART AND THIS WAS CAMINO, THAT EVEN AT VERY EARLY STAGES, THERE WAS SOMETHING ALIVE INSIDE A WOMAN.

HOWEVER, THE INTERNET HAS JUST AS EQUALLY KICKBACK IN THE LEFT DIRECTION, SUPPORTING WOMEN'S CHOICE, GIVING KIDS, PARTICULARLY WHOSE PARENTS WOULD NOT ALLOW THEM TO HAVE ABORTIONS, A WAY TO GET A CHEMICAL ABORTION.

HOW HAS THAT BEEN A GAME-CHANGER FOR YOU?

DO YOU AGREE THAT SONOGRAMS HURT PUBLIC OPINION AS FAR AS SUPPORT FOR PRO-CHOICE WAS CONCERNED?

>> Alexis McGill Johnson: 77 PERCENT OF AMERICANS BELIEVE THAT REVIEW WE SHOULD BE LAW OF THE LAND.

THEY CONTINUE TO BELIEVE THAT THE CHOICE SHOULD LIVE WITH A WOMAN, PARTNER, HER PASTOR, MEDICAL PROVIDER.

AND SO, I DON'T THINK THAT THAT'S UNDERCUT CAMINO, MEDICAL OPTIONS A WOMAN MAY NEED WHEN WE DECIDE TO USE DURING HER, DURING THE COURSE OF HER PREGNANCY.

>> Bonnie: YOU SAY THAT, BUT DOESN'T DEPEND ON HOW IT'S WORDED?

I'M SURE IF I HAD A REPRESENTATIVE OF THE RELIGIOUS RIGHT HERE, THEY COULD QUOTE YOU ANOTHER BILL THAT SAYS CAMINO, 56 PERCENT OF THE PUBLIC SAYS ABORTION SHOULD BE BANNED OUTRIGHT.

>> YEAH.

I DO HAVE FAITH IN NBC MARIST FOR THAT WHOLE POLE.

ALSO, WHEN I LOOK AT POLLS THAT LOOK IN OTHER WAYS, I THINK ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE HAVE SEEN AN IMPACT IN IS THIS DISINFORMATION CAMPAIGN.

MISINFORMATION CAMPAIGN AROUND WAS HAPPENING.

IT'S WEEK BYE WEEK BYE WEEK.

AND I THINK THAT THAT HAS HAD AN IMPACT BECAUSE PEOPLE DON'T REALLY UNDERSTAND THE IMPACT OF THE BANS THAT HAVE BEEN PROLIFERATING THROUGHOUT MANY STATES THROUGHOUT THE COUNTRY.

SO, NO, I DON'T THINK IT UNDERCUTS THE IDEA THAT PEOPLE STILL FUNDAMENTALLY BELIEVE THAT THE CHOICE SHOULD LIVE WITH THE PERSON SEEKING THE ABORTION AND IN CONCERT WITH THEIR FAMILY, PARTNER, MEDICAL PROVIDER.

>> Bonnie: DOES THAT BOTHER YOU, BY THE WAY?

>> Alexis McGill Johnson: WHAT?

>> Bonnie: THAT HAS TO BE A WOMAN AND HER DOCTOR OR WOMAN AND HER PARTNER?

WHY CAN IT BE b ÃÃIS THE WOMAN'S BODY.

>> Alexis McGill Johnson: IT'S ABSOLUTELY HER CHOICE.

NO, IT DOES NOT BOTHER ME.

WHAT I'M SPEAKING TO MORE IS THE REALITY OF HOW WE OFTEN DO MAKE CHOICES, RIGHT?

THIS IS PART OF, WHILE IT'S HER FUNDAMENTAL RIGHT FOR HER SELF-DETERMINATION TO MAKE THIS DECISION, THE REALITY IS OFTEN TIMES WE MAKE THESE DECISIONS IN CONCERT WITH PEOPLE WHO ARE TRUSTED CAMINO, SUPPORTERS TO US.

AND SO, ENSURING THAT THE DECISION CONTINUES TO LIVE ULTIMATELY WITH THE PERSON WHO IS MAKING THAT CHOICE, DOESN'T MEAN THAT WE CANNOT INCLUDE OTHER PEOPLE IN THE WAY WE NORMALLY WOULD.

>> Bonnie: AS WE SPEAK, ROE V WADE IS THE LAW OF THE LAND AND THERE IS NO SUPREME COURT CASE TAKING IT ON POINT , AT LEAST DURING THE 20bÖÖ1 TERM.

AND YET, IT'S NOT ANYWHERE NEAR THE DECISION IT WAS THEN IT WAS HANDED DOWN IN THE EARLY '70s BECAUSE STATES HAVE POKED SO MANY HOLES IN IT, LIKE YOU HAVE TO, IN CERTAIN STATES, YOU HAVE TO BILL WOMEN'S HEALTH CLINICS LIKE YOU WOULD BILL THE HOSPITAL, WHICH INCREASES THE COST MANIFOLD.

YOU HAVE TO WAIT 72 HOURS, YOU HAVE TO, IF YOU ARE UNDERAGE, YOU HAVE TO GET A JUDGE'S SUPPORT IF YOU CANNOT GET PARENTAL RIGHT TO ACCESS ABORTION.

SO ROW'S AROUND, BUT IS NOT HOW IT WAS.

HOW DO YOU FEEL ABOUT THAT?

>> YOU ARE RIGHT.

IT'S EMBEDDED IN MANY WAYS THROUGHOUT MANY STATES AND THEY ARE ALSO STATES WHERE TRAINING HAS BEEN CODIFIED.

WHEN YOU LOOK AT HOW WOULD HAVE BEEN IN NEW YORK WITH REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH ACT, ILLINOIS, CALIFORNIA, STATES THAT ARE PUSHING AND EXPANDING OPPORTUNITIES TO ACCESS SAFE AND LEGAL ABORTION.

I THINK WHAT I WOULD ADD TO THAT IS THAT CAMINO, WHEN WE TALK ABOUT THE FACT THAT 77 PERCENT OF AMERICANS, 77 PERCENT OF AMERICANS TO BELIEVE THAT ROW SHOULD BE THE LAW OF THE LAND, WHAT WE'VE SEEN OVER THE LAST DECADE IS ESSENTIALLY A VOCAL MINORITY WHO DISAGREES WITH THAT, THAT PROMISE, HOLDING THE LEVERS OF POWER IN MANY STATES THAT ARE INTRODUCING THESE BANS.

AND THAT'S WHAT'S ACTUALLY VERY CONCERNING, THAT YOU HAVE ESSENTIALLY A TALE OF TWO CITIES.

YOU HAVE A TALE OF TWO STATES WHERE, YOU KNOW, ONE STATE, YOU KNOW, A STATE LIKE CALIFORNIA WHERE PLANNED PARENTHOOD OF LOS ANGELES WAS JUST ABLE TO OPEN UP FIVE OF WHAT WILL BE 50 WELL-BEING CENTERS INSIDE OF HIGH SCHOOLS WHERE YOUNG GIRLS CAN GO IN, THEY CAN ASK QUESTIONS ABOUT THEIR OWN REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH CARE, THEY CAN GET ACCESS TO CONTRACEPTION FROM, FROM CLINICIANS.

AND NOT ONLY DO THEY NOT NEED PARENTAL CONSENT TO DO IT, THEY ALSO, IT WILL ALSO BE COVERED THROUGH MEDI-CAL.

IT'S LIKE ONE STATE, YOU HAVE A STATE LIKE MISSOURI WHERE THE STATE HEALTH DIRECTOR AND STATE HEALTH DEPARTMENT WAS ACTUALLY TRACKING THE MENSTRUAL CYCLES OF PLANNED PARENTHOOD PATIENTS TO UNDERSTAND WHEN AND WHERE THEY WERE TERMINATING, WHICH IS NOT JUST INVASION OF PRIVACY, BUT AN ABUSE OF POWER.

SO WE ARE LIVING IN A WORLD WHERE OUR HEALTHCARE IS NOT JUST BEING DICTATED BY, BY ZIP CODE, AS IT WERE BY THE STATES THAT WERE LIVING IN, IT IS CREATING SUCH AN UNEVEN EXPERIENCE IN OUR ABILITY TO ACCESS SAFE AND LEGAL ABORTION AND OTHER FORMS OF REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH CARE, AND THAT'S WHAT WE REALLY NEED TO BE CONCERNED ABOUT.

>> Bonnie: WHY IS IT THAT THE GUTTMACHER INSTITUTE KEEPS TRACK OF THE NUMBER OF AT LEAST PHYSICAL SURGICAL ABORTIONS EACH YEAR?

AND WITH THINGS LIKE ARE YOU FOR AT AGE 6 AND PLAN B, WHY IS IT'S STILL ABOVE A MILLION A YEAR?

WHY HAS PHYSICAL, SURGICAL ABORTION, IF YOU WILL -- >> Alexis McGill Johnson: I UNDERSTAND.

>> Bonnie: NOT DROPPED BECAUSE OF THE ADVENT OF CUT MEDICAL ABORTION?

>> Alexis McGill Johnson: RIGHT.

SO MEDICAL ABORTIONS GO UP TO 11, 12 WEEKS.

YOU KNOW, IN MANY CASES, IT'S THE STATE BANS, ONEROUS RESTRICTIONS THAT ARE PLACING UNDUE BURDEN ON THE PATIENT AND IN SOME CASES THE PROVIDER IN ORDER TO PROVIDE ACCESS TO SAFE AND LEGAL ABORTIONS.

SO, YOU KNOW, SAY YOU'RE A WOMAN WHO LIVES IN WEST TEXAS AND IT IS FIVE HOURS IN EITHER DIRECTION TO GET TO A CLINIC AND YOU KNOW THAT YOU ACTUALLY NEED TO HAVE 72 HOURS IN BETWEEN, IN BETWEEN THE TIME YOU ARE SEEN BY A PROVIDER AND THEN TO COME BACK AND HAVE THAT PROCEDURE.

IF YOU WHERE A WORKING MOM, THAT MEANS YOU HAVE TO FIGURE OUT CHILDCARE, YOU HAVE TO FIGURE OUT HOW YOU'RE GOING TO GET THERE AND BACK, FIGURE OUT HOW YOU'RE GOING TO PAY FOR A HOTEL, FOR FOOD AND DO THAT TWICE WITHIN 72 HOURS.

ALL RIGHT.

IF YOU CAN'T AFFORD TO TAKE OFF THE WHOLE WEEK.

AND SO, EVEN JUST GETTING THE MONEY UP TO PAY FOR THE PROCEDURE b ÃÃSO IMAGINE YOU ARE A WOMAN IS LIVING IN WEST TEXAS, AND, YOU KNOW, YOU CAN'T FIND A CLINIC WITH A FIVE HOURS' DRIVE TIME WITH YOU AND IMAGINE YOU'RE WORKING MOM LIVING IN WEST TEXAS AND THE RESTRICTIONS ARE SUCH THAT YOU HAVE TO BE SEEN TWICE WITHIN A 72 HOUR PERIOD TO ACTUALLY GET THE MEDICAL PROCEDURE WHICH SO THAT MEANS YOU TO THINK ABOUT CHILDCARE, THAT MEANS YOU HAVE TO THINK ABOUT WHERE YOU ARE GOING TO STAY AND HOW YOU'RE GOING TO PAY FOR THAT.

YOU HAVE TO THINK ABOUT THE DRIVETIME, RIGHT?

THAT'S LIKE 20 HOURS OF DRIVE TIME WHILE YOU ARE GOING TO, YOU KNOW, TO GET ACCESS TO ABORTION, AND YOU ALSO TO LINE UP WITH THE PROVIDER AVAILABILITY, KNOWING THAT THE PROVIDER MAY ALSO HAVE TO COME IN 72 HOURS b ÃÃTHERE ARE FIVE STATES THAT DON'T HAVE PROVIDERS LIVING IN STATE.

AND SO, YOU MAY HAVE TO LINE ALL THAT UP WITH A PERSON'S FLIGHT SCHEDULE.

SO THAT'S WHAT WE ARE TALKING ABOUT.

THESE BANS ARE PUSHING PEOPLE INTO LATER TERM ABORTIONS BECAUSE, BECAUSE ONCE THEY'VE MADE THE DECISION TO TERMINATE THE PREGNANCY, THEY STILL HAVE TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO SCHEDULE IT IN A WAY WHERE THE ATTACKS ARE PUTTING, AGAIN, NOT JUST A BURDEN AND CRIMINALIZATION ON THE PROVIDER BUT ALSO ON THE PERSON SEEKING THE ABORTION.

>> Bonnie: TELL ME ABOUT THE VOTER DIE CAMPAIGN.

>> Alexis McGill Johnson: SCHAND IT BECOMES IN 2004 HAD THIS IDEA THAT HE COULD LEVERAGE HIS MARKETING WIZARDRY TO TURNING YOUNG PEOPLE OUT TO VOTE FOR THE ELECTION.

WE CALL THEM THE FORGOTTEN ONES.

PEOPLE TRADITIONALLY HAD NOT BEEN IN MASS BIG ENGAGED VOTERS OF OUR ELECTORATE, BUT WERE SUCH A BIG PART OF THE MILLENNIAL GENERATION IS SUCH A BIG PART OF OUR ELECTORATE NOW.

16 YEARS AGO HE HAD AN IDEA THAT IF HE CREATED A CAMPAIGN THAT FELT INCREDIBLY URGENT AND LEVERAGE ALL OF HIS CONNECTIONS AT RADIO STATIONS AND BARBERSHOPS AND, YOU KNOW, AND ON THE GROUND, THE STREET TEAMS OF MOBILIZING AND MOTIVATING PEOPLE IN THE SAME WAY THAT HE WOULD GET PEOPLE EXCITED ABOUT AN ALBUM OR, YOU KNOW, BUYING A, YOU KNOW, CLOTHES, HE COULD TURN THAT SAME ENERGY AROUND, GETTING THEM OUT TO VOTE.

>> Bonnie: DID IT WORK?

>> Alexis McGill Johnson: YEAH.

I MEAN, ABSOLUTELY, IT DID.

AND WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE DATA ABOUT HOW THE YOUTH VOTE INCREASE, PARTICULARLY AROUND THE BLACK AND LATINO VOTE, IT WAS UNBELIEVABLE.

IT WAS UNPARALLELED.

THEY IN FACT DROVE THE INCREASE IN YOUTH VOTE AND THE YOUTH HAD NOT BEEN VOTING AT THOSE RATES SINCE 1972.

SO, YEAH, IT WAS A SIGNIFICANT CAN SIX ASKED.

>> ARE YOU DOING ANYTHING LIKE THAT IN 2020?

>> Alexis McGill Johnson: IT'S INTERESTING ABOUT THE 2004 IS THAT IT REALLY DID SET INTO MOTION AND UNDERSTANDING AND AWARENESS ABOUT HOW, HOW ELECTIONS HAVE CONSEQUENCES, HOW POLITICS MATTER NOT JUST ON THE NATIONAL STAGE BUT LOCAL LEVEL TOO.

AND FROM THAT WERE, WE'VE SEEN MANY CAMPAIGNS ADOPT SOME OF THE SAME STRATEGIES.

WE'VE SEEN PEOPLE HAVE VERY MEANINGFUL CONNECTIONS TO THINGS LIKE POLICE INVOLVED SHOOTINGS, HOW THAT ANIMATED COMMUNITIES AROUND ISSUES LIKE IMMIGRATION, HOW THAT'S ANIMATED COMMUNITIES.

AND WHAT I SEE NOW, HAVING BEEN AT THE FOREFRONT OF THAT WORK, IS JUST THIS GENERATION HAVING THE MOST UNAPOLOGETIC IDENTITY ABOUT HOW THEY WANT TO ENGAGE IN THEIR POLITICS.

AND, YOU KNOW, FOR AN ORGANIZATION LIKE PLANNED PARENTHOOD, AND YOU KNOW, SOMEONE BORN IN 1972, A FEW MONTHS BEFORE ROE, SEEING THE FIRE THAT THIS GENERATION IS BRINGING AROUND REPRODUCTIVE RIGHTS MATCHED MY MOTHER'S GENERATION ABOUT REPRODUCTIVE RIGHTS AND HOW AMAZING THAT INTERGENERATIONAL MOVEMENT IS.

YOU KNOW, ALL THE MECHANISMS THAT WE ARE USING TO TURN THEM OUT, THAT WILL MAKE THE DIFFERENCE IN ELECTING THE CHAMPIONS.

>> Bonnie: IS THAT AWAY AND SAYING THE ANTIABORTION ACTIVITY HAS MADE PLANNED PARENTHOOD STRONGER?

>> Alexis McGill Johnson: YEAH.

ABSOLUTELY.

WELL, I MEAN, I THINK WE'VE, WE'VE, WE'VE BEEN AROUND FOR 103 YEARS, AND I THINK PEOPLE HAVE BEEN TRYING TO TAKE US DOWN FOR A LONG TIME.

BUT I DO THINK SEEING THESE, SEEING THESE, THESE GENERATIONS COME TOGETHER, AND I'LL, AND I WILL TELL YOU IF I CAN A REALLY QUICK STORY ABOUT A, YOU KNOW, WHEN YOU SAY YOU ARE LEADING PLANNED PARENTHOOD, YOU GET ALL KINDS OF STORIES ABOUT PEOPLE'S PERSONAL EXPERIENCES.

IT'S REALLY TRULY A VERY GROUNDING PART OF MY JOB AND WORK RIGHT NOW.

JUST RECENTLY, I WAS AT AN EVENT AND A WOMAN SAID, YOU KNOW, SHE CAME UP TO ME AND SAID, YOU KNOW, I AM SO APPRECIATIVE PLANNED PARENTHOOD WAS THERE PERSONALLY FOR ME GROWING UP, THEREFORE MANY OF MY FRIENDS BUT I DON'T WANT TO TELL YOU MY STORY, I WANT TO TELL YOU MY MOM'S STORY.

SHE PROCEEDED TO TELL ME A STORY ABOUT HER MOM HE WAS GROWING UP IN THE OUT WEST IN A VERY RURAL COMMUNITY.

SHE JUST GOT INTO COLLEGE AND HAD JUST GOTTEN PREGNANT AND WAS MORTIFIED.

SHE DID NOT WANT TO TELL HER PARENTS.

HER OLDER BROTHER WAS A FLIGHT ATTENDANT WITH TWA.

AND HE SAID, AND HIS WORDS AND HER WORDS TO ME, I'M GOING TO TAKE YOU TO A PLACE WHERE WE TAKE THE STEWARDESSES.

ENSHI, MOM, GETS ON THE PLANE WITH HER BROTHER AND TAKES HER TO A PLACE SOMEWHERE, SOMEWHERE TO ACCESS ABORTION.

AND SHE COMES BACK, AND THE WORK THAT WE ARE DOING THIS YEAR, KNOWING THAT ROE IS ON THE LINE, IT LOOKS VERY SIMILAR TO WHAT THAT WOMAN'S BROTHER DID FOR HER RIGHT NOW WE ARE THINKING ABOUT ALL OF THE STATES IN WHICH ABORTION WILL BE VIRTUALLY INACCESSIBLE, EVEN IF IT REMAINS LEGAL.

AND HOW WE WILL GET WOMEN TO WHERE THEY NEED TO BE ACROSS THE COUNTRY IN CONCERT WITH OUR PARTNERS AND OTHER INDEPENDENT PROVIDERS.

AND SO, THAT'S WHAT'S SO INTERESTING, THAT GENERALLY GENERATIONALLY THAT, YOU KNOW, THE EXPERIENCE OF WHAT IT WAS THAT WE ALL THOUGHT HAD BEEN SETTLED IS THE EXPERIENCE OF THAT, YOU KNOW, THAT COULD VERY WELL BE THIS YEAR AND HOW WE WILL MARRY THOSE TWO GENERATIONS TOGETHER TO FIGURE OUT HOW WE GET PAST THAT IS THE MOST CRITICAL WORK THAT WE COULD DO THIS YEAR.

>> Bonnie: IT WILL BE FASCINATING TO WATCH HOW YOU DO THAT.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR TIME.

VERY MUCH APPRECIATED.

THAT'S IT FOR THIS EDITION OF "TO THE CONTRARY".

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