TRIGGER PLANTING
At Frieze New York, 2022
In collaboration with A.I.R Gallery and National Women’s Liberation
On Monday, May 2, 2022, a draft Supreme Court opinion by Justice Samuel Alito overturning Roe v. Wade was leaked to the press. This draft laid bare the Court’s intention to nullify the 1973 decision, which federally protected the right to an abortion before viability (generally 24–26 weeks of pregnancy). The outcome would place the legislation of abortion healthcare in the hands of each individual state. Waves of protests immediately began taking place across the country.
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March 19, 2018
The Governor of Mississippi signed a bill banning abortion after 15 weeks of pregnancy. Within hours, the Center filed a complaint and a request for a temporary restraining order to block the ban.
March 20, 2018
A federal district court granted emergency relief, blocking enforcement of the ban.
November 20, 2018
The district court ruled the ban unconstitutional and issued a permanent injunction, striking down the ban.
December 14, 2019
A three-judge panel of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit unanimously affirmed the lower court’s decision to strike down the 15-week ban.
June 15, 2020
Mississippi filed a cert petition with the U.S. Supreme Court.
May 17, 2021
U.S. Supreme Court announced it will hear Mississippi’s appeal.
September 13, 2021
Center’s response brief filed at the U.S. Supreme Court.
September 20, 2021
Over 50 amicus briefs are submitted to the Court supporting the Center’s case.
December 01, 2021
Oral arguments held.
June 24, 2022
U.S Supreme Court issues ruling, taking away the constitutional right to abortion.
Trigger Planting draws upon a data map published by the Guttmacher Institute in 2021 visualizing the fact that “If the U.S. Supreme Court overturns or guts Roe v. Wade, 26 states are certain or likely to ban abortion.”
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Alabama — Pre-Roe ban, Near-total ban, State constitution bars protection
Arizona — Pre-Roe ban
Arkansas — Pre-Roe ban, Trigger ban, Near-total ban
Florida — In 2021, the state legislature attempted to ban abortion at 20 weeks of pregnancy and an effort to adopt a Texas-style six-week ban was publicized. In April 2022, a 15-week abortion ban was enacted that is scheduled to go into effect in July.
Georgia — Six-week ban
Idaho — Trigger ban, Six-week ban
Iowa — Six-week ban
Indiana — In the past decade, the legislature has enacted 55 abortion restrictions and bans, paving the way for a comprehensive ban.
Kentucky — Trigger ban, Six-week ban
Louisiana — Trigger ban, Near-total ban, Six-week ban, State constitution bars protection
Michigan — Pre-Roe ban
Mississippi — Pre-Roe ban, Trigger ban, Six-week ban
Missouri — Trigger ban, Eight-week ban
Montana — For the first time in nearly a decade, new abortion restrictions were enacted in 2021, including restrictions on medication abortion and abortion at 20 weeks of pregnancy. (These restrictions currently cannot be enforced due to a court order.)
Nebraska — Although not one of the most prolific states on enacting abortion restrictions, it was the first to adopt a 22-week ban (in 2010), and in 2020, enacted a ban on the standard method for abortion after 15 weeks.
North Dakota — Trigger ban, Six-week ban
Ohio — Six-week ban
Oklahoma — Pre-Roe ban, Trigger ban (effective November 1, 2021), Near-total ban, Six-week ban
South Carolina — Six-week ban
South Dakota — Trigger ban
Tennessee — Trigger ban, Six-week ban, State constitution bars protection
Texas — Pre-Roe ban, Trigger ban, Six-week ban
Utah — Trigger ban, Near-total ban
West Virginia — Pre-Roe ban, State constitution bars protection
Wisconsin — Pre-Roe ban
Wyoming — Trigger ban
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Pre-Roe ban: Law enacted before 1973 and never removed
"Trigger" ban: Law designed to be "triggered" and take effect automatically or by quick state action if Roe no longer applies
Near-total ban: Law enacted after Roe to prohibit abortion under all or nearly all circumstances (several of this type are currently blocked by court order)
Six-week ban: Law prohibiting abortion after six weeks of pregnancy (one in effect)
Eight-week ban: Law prohibiting abortion after eight weeks of pregnancy (none in effect)
State constitution bars protection: Constitution amended to prohibit any protection for abortion rights
Presented at the Frieze art fair in New York just weeks after the draft opinion was leaked, Trigger Planting embodies a collective rapid response to the urgency of the moment calling attention to histories and practices of bodily autonomy and symbolizing resistance, refusal, and feminist self determination. The project consisted of a 19 x 45 foot wall graphic and garden with accompanying wall text. The graphic is a cyan tinted photographic image of a wild field with a map of the United States rendered as a white outline drawing. Green felt pockets full of plants with contraceptive and abortifacient potential were placed on the 26 states with (then) dormant restrictive laws targeting abortion healthcare.
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Black Cohosh, Actaea racemosa or Cimicifuga racemosa
Chamomile, Chamaemelum nobile
Chaste Tree, Vitex agnus-castus
Cotton, Gossypium
Dittany, Origanum dictamnus
Feverfew, Tanacetum parthenium
Horehound, Marrubium vulgare
Hyssop, Hyssopus officinalis
Juniper, Juniperus communis,Juniperus sabina
Lavender, Lavandula angustifolia
Lemon Balm, Melissa officinalis
Lemon Verbena, Aloysia citrodora
Milk Thistle, Silybum marianum
Mint, Mentha
Motherwort, Leonurus cardiaca
Mugwort, Artemisia vulgaris
Parsley, Petroselinum crispum
Pennyroyal, Hedeoma pulegioides
Rosemary, Salvia rosmarinus or Rosmarinus officinalis
Rue, Ruta graveolens
Sage, Salvia officinalis
St. John’s Wort, Hypericum perforatum
Tansy, Tanacetum vulgare
Tarragon, Artemisia dracunculus
Wild Carrot or Queen Ann’s Lace, Daucus carota
Wormwood, Artemisia absinthium
Yarrow, Achillea millefolium
Learn more about the plants and our garden’s meanings here.
Abortion is healthcare.
People have a right to healthcare.
People have always had abortions.
And they always will.
Sign National Women’s Liberation pledge to aid and abet an abortion anywhere, anytime.
This project was created by Kadambari Baxi, Maureen Connor, Landon Newton in collaboration with A.I.R Gallery and National Women’s Liberation.