LINCOLN -- Thursday, a coalition of pro-life state senators and organizations will hold a press conference at the state capitol in support of pro-life bills in the Nebraska legislature. Meanwhile, pro-choice advocates will also testify.

Michelle Anderson and Cerita Burrell of the nonprofit Afiya Center traveled as far as from Texas to Nebraska; sharing their stories on how abortion can prevent poverty.

"We have seen firsthand what SB8 has done," said Burrell, who said she fights for the right to abortion because "If I don't do it, who will?" 

"It is a human right to access healthcare, and abortion is healthcare," said Anderson. "Being Black women, we know not having access to abortion also brings generations of poverty."

The two shared with NCN how banning abortion or limiting it promotes poverty.

"To be forced to carry an abortion to term, when you're already trying to sustain yourself, in terms of poverty it keeps people stuck," Burrell said. "You cannot claim to care about the sanctity of life and only care about it when it's in the womb."

The advocates emphasized how instead, supporting the choice of women would deconstruct racist systems. 

"If Black women are free, all people are free," Anderson said. "We're fighting for the lives of our daughters and our children's children."

The two tell NCN they believe that education; advocacy; and voter engagement can change the tide.

They will be speaking at 1:30 tomorrow in the Nebraska legislature.