Rosaura “Rosie” Jiménez was a single mother living in McAllen, Texas. In September 1977, upon discovering she was pregnant, and being told that medicaid would no longer pay for abortions she had an illegal abortion and died of an infection.

Rosie was the first known victim of the Hyde Amendment which, in 1977, cut off Medicaid funding for safe abortion care to women on public assistance. Rosie was 27 years old.

Rosie is the reason why our mission is to keep abortion legal and to ensure that all women, regardless of age, race, class, status, geography or ability to pay, have full, unimpeded access to reproductive health care. And the reason why it is so important to have pro-choice elected officials at all levels of government.

Activist and songwriter Sandy Rapp has written a moving song about Rosie Jiminez. Please listen in remembrance.