In light of the recent events in the U.S., Europe and the UK, Petrol Girls are expanding their pro-choice efforts. Today the feminist post-hardcore punk band have released a live video of their powerful and timely single ‘Baby, I Had An Abortion.’ The clip was filmed on an analogue video camera by Martyna Bannister during their time at Middle Farm Studios where Petrol Girls recorded their forthcoming new album ‘Baby’ – due out 24 June via Hassle Records – to tape with producer Pete Miles.
Says Petrol Girls vocalist Ren Aldridge: “Since we released this track in February, we have seen a deeply sinister intensification of attacks on abortion and reproductive justice across the world. We have been following the developments in the U.S. regarding the likely overturning of Roe Vs Wade this summer, which would result in more than half of U.S. states banning abortion, with Black, Indigenous and poor people being most severely affected (as they already are). Here in Europe we have seen Polish Abortion Dream Team activist Justyna Wydrzyńska face trial for giving a woman in an abusive relationship abortion pills, a woman in Croatia denied abortion despite severe fetal abnormalities and a 24 year old woman in Oxford UK to face trial at the Crown Court for taking abortion pills.
It’s frightening. It’s overwhelming. But together we are powerful and around the world we are fighting back!”
Seeing the incredible need for us to share our stories to create a better understanding of the issues from a global perspective and hopefully learn from each other, Petrol Girls have launched a zine on abortion and reproductive rights with an open call for submissions HERE. Their ‘Baby, I Support Abortion’ merch will continue to raise funds for Abortion Without Borders in Europe, with all U.S. profits being donated to The Brigid Alliance – an organization that, “…arranges and funds confidential, personalized travel support to those seeking abortion care in increasingly hostile environments. In partnership with a network of funds and providers, we are closing the gap between the right to an abortion and the ability to access one.”
Petrol Girls see the expansion of their pro-choice efforts as a rallying cry to unite us all in the fight for choice and reproductive justice. Aldridge is encouraged by the Latin American Green Tide which she noted was instrumental in getting abortion legalised in Argentina in December 2020, decriminalized in Mexico in September 2021 and decimalised in Columbia in February of this year. She cites these alongside the “Strajk kobiet women’s strike movement fighting back in Poland,” the mobilisation “in the U.S. to say FUCK SCOTUS WE’RE DOING IT ANYWAY, to 2019’s win in Northern Ireland, and the Eighth being repealed in Ireland in 2018 (the day before I found out I was pregnant!).” The sheer numbers of people taking action and over decades give Aldridge hope for the movement.
“This song is our offering to the movement for reproductive justice. It is shameless. It is unapologetic. And it is my celebration of the day I made the decision that I wanted for my body and my future. Baby, I had an abortion, and I’M NOT SORRY!”
Petrol Girls UK Tour Dates:
07 July Le Pub Newport
08 July 2000trees Festival Cheltenham
10 July The Green Door Store Brighton
Connect with Petrol Girls here.