“What struck me most after the overturning of Roe, were all the horror stories of women frantically crossing state lines to get an abortion, many of whom were underage, victims of rape, or subject to preexisting conditions that meant birth could also be a death sentence.

These stories sounded like those of immigrants fleeing an oppressive regime, rather than American citizens fighting for their right for agency over their own bodies.

Once upon a time, I was an immigrant fleeing such a regime, and I hope that finding sanctuary states like mine (California, in this case) allowed for some measure of hope.

When Artists United approached me with an opportunity to add my voice to the narrative, the idea of being that immigrant again returned to me. And I wondered if the people out there denying a woman her right to choose, would reassess some of their beliefs if they were the ones with an unwanted pregnancy.

If their 10 year old daughters were forced to cross state lines to abort a fetus that was the result of rape. That’s what I hope to show with these images”

— Allan Amato