A year after the U.S. Supreme Court shut down her women’s health clinic in Mississippi, Diane Derzis continues to fight for abortion rights, opening new clinics in Tennessee and Illinois and providing transportation for women who live in restrictive states.
“It was a clear message that I’m not doing enough,” Derzis said, of the Supreme Court’s ruling in Dobbs vs. Jackson Women’s Health Organization.
Since the June 24, 2022 ruling, 14 states have passed laws restricting abortion. Iowa, the latest state to limit abortions, made the procedure illegal after six weeks of pregnancy with exceptions for rape and incest.
“We’ve relied upon men in the law to take care of us,” Derzis said. “This is what we get. People forget that freedom is not free. They think, ‘The government won’t take away my rights.’”'
Since the laws were passed, abortion rates have declined by 96% in states with the strictest bans like Idaho and Mississippi, according to a report by the Society of Family Planning. Derzis’s new clinic in Bristol, Tennessee prompted a lawsuit by her landlords, Chase and Chadwick King.
“They said we didn’t tell them we were doing abortions,” she said. “I think they want to get us out.”
The clinic remains open and Derzis said she is not intimidated by the lawsuit. “We’re going to do some more hiring,” she said.
Neither of the King brothers responded to several requests for an interview.
Derzis recently opened a clinic in Chicago and plans to start a new clinic in Maryland. “That’s a safe state,” she said.
She chose Maryland, Chicago, and Bristol because they are easily accessible for women living in a group of 11 surrounding states where abortion rights are limited. Her Bristol clinic is right on the Tennessee border; in fact, part of the clinic is in Tennessee. She also runs clinics in Virginia and New Mexico.
With women facing government restrictions in 14 states, one of her goals is for women to “realize there are other ways to get out of there and that they still can have an abortion.” She raises money to help pay for their travel to obtain abortions not available in their home states. Although she was in the national spotlight, Derzis is still focusing on the individuals who need her help.
Derzis became an advocate for abortion rights 45 years ago, when she was 21 and had “an abortion when I was married.”
“That’s stayed with me all these years,” she said. “Recognizing that if I had not had that choice, that I would not be where I am today.”
After having a safe abortion, Derzis decided to devote her life to fighting for the freedom of choice to those who have lost it. “The fact that you’re going to give a fertilized egg more rights is an outrage to me as a woman,” Derzis said. She urges people to continue advocating for women’s rights to have control over their bodies. “You know, this is the country where [we think] if we elect pro-choice individuals, they will take care of us,” she said. Instead, they turned on the people the first chance they had.
“We’ve got to put it ourselves in action,” she said. It’s an insanely exciting time to do any clinics, but it’s so depressing if you look at the reason why we’re here.”
“It’s my passion.” That’s why she keeps fighting.
Unlike Derzis, many people are unwilling to fight against these restrictions at such an intense level. Still, she says that most people can support abortion rights and continue to advocate.
Derzis said people can donate to “the Pink House Fund, which is the nonprofit that also helps with… travel and abortion expenses.” She also says that people can write op-ed pieces, letters to the editors, and speak out about the issue to contribute to the fight. People can get involved in many ways “without going overboard and getting arrested or any of that.”
Instead of donating to huge groups like Planned Parenthood, Derzis recommends contributing to independent clinics, with the money directly helping women in need. With abortion bans in place across the United States, the future for women’s reproductive rights remains threatened. Younger generations will experience these restrictions the most.
A high school student in Starkville, Mississippi, Tamarias Lyles, worries about Mississippi’s abortion laws. “One day I may need the use of contraceptives,” she said. “And now that [is] threatened.”
Derzis is worried, too.
“It’s the worst that it could ever be,” she said. “Contraceptive pills will be the first to go.”
Derzis refuses to let that happen without a fight. By allowing abortion restrictions to pass without a fight, it will set the scene for the governments to pass even more restrictive laws.
When asked about what she would do if a young woman came to her asking for help, Derzis said, “If abortion was her choice. I’d do whatever it took to help her get there.”
Her clinics have helped thousands of women. “We’re lucky enough that we do have lots of funding groups that are able to help those women with travel and abortion expenses.” Especially after the Dobbs vs. Jackson case, funding increased for patients at Derzis’ clinics needing help with travel and abortions.
Derzis said she will remain on the frontlines of the battle for abortion rights.
“I think that [the government is] using the law now to scare the hell out of people. That if you help someone, they’re going to come after you. And they very well may,” Derzis said. “You know, in my lifetime and probably in yours, I don’t think we’ll see abortion allowed in all the states again.”
Corlie Zhuang is a student at Interlake High School in Bellevue, Washington. She reported this story as part of Annenberg summer program, Storytelling in the Digital Age.