Here you will find the story behind the song, abortion resources, ways to share your abortion story, and information on how to donate in the name of reproductive justice and bodily autonomy.
MILCK JOINS FORCES WITH BIIANCO, AUTUMN ROWE, & ANI DIFRANCO FOR HER LATEST PROTEST SONG
"WE WON'T GO BACK"
BEHIND THE SONG
“The process of creating this song embodies one of my favorite quotes from Maxine Hong Kingston: ‘In times of destruction, create something’. I hope this song gives people a sense of energy to continue fighting the good fight.” - MILCK
Artwork by Brianna Arnolde
The story of “We Won’t Go Back” began in DC the day after the Politico leak regarding the potential overturning of Roe v. Wade, which would eliminate the constitutional right to abortion. MILCK joined protesters on the steps of the Supreme Court as they chanted in unison “We won’t go back!” That night, MILCK took the audio she’d recorded from the protests and created a sample that would soon become a song, which she would share on social media, (Protest version link) offering the audio to her community with the intention that others would contribute their voices and stories. The overwhelming response helped lift each other up at a time so many were feeling powerless.
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An instagram fan suggested a lyric that is now the opening verse of the song: “My body is a revolution” and MILCK invited her artist and activist friends Ani DiFranco, BIIANCO,
and Grammy winner Autumn Rowe to contribute their own ideas. In MILCK's own words,
“This song is a communal effort, which is one of my favorite ways of processing the pain and trauma around me. Community is the cure for most problems, and this song was no exception.”
“When MILCK approached me about creating a track that encapsulates how we feel about our government’s ongoing threats to body autonomy, I couldn’t say yes fast enough. Working with MILCK and then Ani DiFranco and Autumn Rowe has felt like melting into a purpose — everyone propelled by their own personal reasons and passion melting into each others talents. People often think of the divine feminine as a gentle and earthly fairy bestowing lessons upon the world — but I hope they hear this song and realize the divine feminine is an unstoppable war cry from an immeasurably fierce and pure place of the heart — because that is the place this song was created from.”
"Lately, there is a constant frustration with recent politics and feeling personally attacked as a woman of color in America. Instead of feeling helpless, it’s empowering being able to use music as a vessel for rebellion. Let’s get loud, angry, march, protest, vote, assemble. This is our fight, this is your fight. “We Won’t Go Back” to oppression and blatant sexism. I hope this song helps people find solidarity and gets them amped for this battle. We are not alone... we have each other and that is powerful”
“How cool is it to build a track off a phone recording of people chanting at a demonstration? A spontaneous demonstration outside the supreme court, the very moment we found out they plan to return us to the dark ages - to be exact. I love the concept of this track and all the people involved. We are going to need profound solidarity and cooperation to stop this political and judicial regression. We are going to need every ounce of our creativity. That is what this track represents.”
RESOURCES
PLANNED PARENTHOOD is the largest single provider of reproductive and sexual health care in the U.S., and it engages in advocacy, education, and lobbying on behalf of reproductive rights. Each local affiliate provides different services, which include STI testing, birth control, abortion, and emergency contraception. For information regarding safe reproductive access, call 1-800-230-PLAN
I NEED AN A is a simple, easy to use, up-to-date, and localized source of information for anyone seeking an abortion.
NATIONAL NETWORK OF ABORTION FUNDS (NNAF) is a network of approximately 70 organizations that work at the intersections of racial,
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ENGAGING MEN
MEN 4 CHOICE was founded to activate, educate, and mobilize male allies into the fight as active partners and allies and to unconditionally support the women and impacted individuals leading this movement. Wondering how you can be an ally to the fight for reproductive freedom? Check out the Men 4 Choice Starter Kit for pro-choice men.
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Rather than debate men who may be opposed to abortion, Men4Choice focuses exclusively on activating passively pro-choice male allies and mobilizing them into action. With more than 60 million adult men in America who broadly support the right to choose, our mission is to expand the power of the movement for reproductive freedom by turning more of those men from passive supporters into allies organized for action, unconditionally supporting those most impacted by the
harmful agenda of the anti-choice minority in our country. By equipping these allies with the knowledge they need and training them to organize their peers, we empower them to challenge the toxic culture which drives these oppressive laws and bring new activists into this fight.
economic, and reproductive justice to remove financial and logistical barriers to abortion access. These organizations work with clinics to help pay for abortions and assist people having abortions with transportation, childcare, translation, doula services, and lodging.
ABORTION CARE NETWORK (ACN) is the national association for independent, community-based abortion care providers and their allies. Independent clinics provide more than half of all abortions in the United States and the vast majority of care after the first trimester. The ACN provides a nationwide list of independent abortion clinics as well as information about how to support your local indie providers. Go to the ACN site or text “hello” to (202) 883-4620.
NATIONAL ABORTION FEDERATION (NAF) is home to The NAF Hotline Fund and operates the largest national, toll-free, multi-lingual Hotline for abortion referrals and financial assistance in the U.S. and Canada. They provide callers with accurate information, confidential consultation, and referrals to providers of quality abortion care. They also provide case management services and limited financial assistance to help you afford the cost of your care and travel-related expenses. The Hotline is free and offers services to everyone, regardless of your individual situation. Toll-free NAF Hotline 1-800-772-9100.
THE YELLOWHAMMER FUND is an abortion fund and reproductive justice organization serving Alabama, Mississippi, and the Deep South dedicated to ensuring all people have the ability to decide when and how to build their families, regardless of race, income, location, age, gender, sexuality, disability, documentation status or number of children.
REPROCARE’S anonymous abortion helpline provides peer-based emotional support, medical information, and referrals to people having an abortion at home with pills. Call 833-226-7821.
Need to talk with someone about your abortion experience? Looking to support your partner, child, or friend after their abortion? Text or call EXHALE PRO-VOICE at 617-749-2948 for nonjudgmental after-abortion support.
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For all things legal, IF WHEN HOW transforms the law and policy landscape through advocacy, support, and organizing. Their Repro Legal Defense Fund covers bail and funds strong defenses for people who are unjustly targeted by police or prosecutors for ending their own pregnancy. And their Repro Legal Helpline provides confidential legal advice for those seeking info on self-managed abortion care & bail support for people providing/assisting abortion care. Call 844-868-2812.
You can learn more about abortion pills and at home abortions, locating clinics, financial assistance and logistical support, judicial bypass, emotional support, transgender health, and legal support through SHOUT YOUR ABORTION.
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PLAN C PILLS is a public health information campaign with a 50-state guide to abortion pills by mail and telehealth as well as legal and medical hotlines for safe self-managed abortion. Veteran public health advocates, researchers, social justice activists and digital strategists have led communications campaigns and incubated new initiatives that disrupt old barriers to access, partnering at the intersection of research, technology, grassroots advocacy and health.
THE MISCARRIAGE AND ABORTION HOTLINE offers support and expert advice to self-manage your miscarriage or abortion. Experts are available 8AM to 11PM in all continental US time zones, and will respond within an hour. They will not ask your name or any personal details or health identifiers. Their texts and phones are confidential, private, and secure. Call or text 1-833-246-2632.
ALL OPTIONS HELPLINE offers unbiased, judgement-free emotional support to folks in the full spectrum of pregnancy experiences including pregnancy, abortion, adoption, parenting, miscarriage, after-abortion, and infertility. Call 888-493-0092.
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INTERSECTIONALITY​
When lawmakers restrict our reproductive rights and health, these barriers disproportionately impact women of color, low-income women, and others who face the largest barriers to thrive. It is important will approach these issues from a human rights and reproductive justice perspective incorporating the intersections of race, gender, class, and sexual orientation.
Racist and sexist false stereotypes about AAPI women have been used to justify bans on abortions and excuse racial profiling of AAPIs. THE NATIONAL ASIAN PACIFIC AMERICAN’S FORUM (NAPAWF) boldly fights for a world where AAPI women and girls have the economic, social, and political power and resources to make decisions about their bodies, sexuality, and reproduction, and advocate for policy and structural changes to a broad range of sexual and reproductive issues that intersect to impact our lives.
IN OUR OWN VOICE: National Black Women’s Reproductive Justice Agenda is a national/state partnership designed to amplify and lift up the voices of Black women
leaders at the national and state levels in our ongoing fight to secure Reproductive Justice for all women and girls. Our organization partners with eight Black women’s Reproductive Justice organizations – Black Women for Wellness, Black Women’s Health Imperative, New Voices for Reproductive Justice, SisterLove, SisterReach, SPARK Reproductive Justice NOW!, the Afiya Center and Women With a Vision – to educate and mobilize Black women, femmes and girls on issues such as abortion access, contraceptive equity and comprehensive sexuality education.
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SISTERSONG is the largest national multi-ethnic Reproductive Justice collective. Their membership includes and represents Indigenous, African American, Arab and Middle Eastern, Asian and Pacific Islander, and Latina women and LGBTQ people. Membership also includes allies who support women’s human right to lead fully self-determined lives. They are dedicated to growing and supporting the reproductive justice movement, and to uplifting the voices and building the capacity of our movement sisters to win access to abortion and all other reproductive rights.
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NATIONAL LATINA INSTITUTE FOR REPRODUCTIVE JUSTICE works to amplify Latina/x voices to change the narratives that seek to tear down the inherent power that resides in our communities. We center Latinas/xs in order to transform the systems that influence our ability to fully make decisions about our bodies and our lives. We do this by building our activist base, shaping policy at the local and national levels, and shifting culture to dismantle the derogatory.
SHARE YOUR STORY
Our stories are ours to tell. At SHOUT YOUR ABORTION you will find a safe platform to share your abortion story in whatever form or tone you choose - it could be a poem, abstract or literal and can include as much or as little details as you like. You can also read about other’s experiences.
WE TESTIFY is an organization dedicated to the leadership and representation of people who have abortions, increasing the spectrum of abortion storytellers in the public sphere, and shifting the way the media understands the context and complexity of accessing abortion care. We Testify invests in abortion storytellers to elevate their voices and expertise, particularly those of color, those from rural and conservative communities, those who are queer-identified, those with varying abilities and citizenship statuses, and those who needed support when navigating barriers while accessing abortion care.
Image courtesy of ACLU
As we continue the fight for safe and legal abortion access, the artists are donating 50% of song proceeds from the original version of “We Won’t Go Back" (ft. Ani DiFranco) to Planned Parenthood, SisterSong and Yellowhammer Fund.
We are going to need community and art to gather energy as we embark in this next chapter to regain the right to choose. To join their efforts we invite you to donate to MILCK’s I Can’t Keep Quiet Fund, housed in the Community Foundation of Louisville. 100% of your donations will directly benefit benefit Planned Parenthood, SisterSong and Yellowhammer Fund.
DONATE
