Bodily autonomy, the fundamental right to make decisions about one’s own body without coercion or harm, and health equity, the principle that everyone is able to attain their full potential for health and wellbeing, depend on freedom from state violence. State violence refers to the use of force, intimidation, and oppression by a government against citizens and noncitizens alike, and is deeply entangled with white supremacy, policing, and criminalization. These systems are fundamentally incompatible with the tenets of bodily autonomy and health equity, as they function as root causes of health disparities by undermining community health—heightening psychological distress, worsening pregnancy outcomes, and restricting access to medical care.
L4GG Litigation Director Amy Powell traveled to El Paso as a lawyer. She came back with dust in her hair, dirt in her lungs, and a clearer sense of what justice actually requires. Here, she shares a first-hand account of what she witnessed inside one of the country's largest immigration detention facilities — and why more attorneys are urgently needed.
Bodily autonomy, the fundamental right to make decisions about one’s own body without coercion or harm, and health equity, the principle that everyone is able to attain their full potential for health and wellbeing, depend on freedom from state violence. State violence refers to the use of force, intimidation, and oppression by a government against citizens and noncitizens alike, and is deeply entangled with white supremacy, policing, and criminalization. These systems are fundamentally incompatible with the tenets of bodily autonomy and health equity, as they function as root causes of health disparities by undermining community health—heightening psychological distress, worsening pregnancy outcomes, and restricting access to medical care.
L4GG Litigation Director Amy Powell traveled to El Paso as a lawyer. She came back with dust in her hair, dirt in her lungs, and a clearer sense of what justice actually requires. Here, she shares a first-hand account of what she witnessed inside one of the country's largest immigration detention facilities — and why more attorneys are urgently needed.
