Even in abortion ‘safe havens’ finding care can be challenging: ‘It’s a system already strained’

Residents of rural areas often have to travel to a city such as Los Angeles to find an abortion provider. Photograph: Caroline Brehman/EPA

In the aftermath of the leaked supreme court document foretelling the end to federal abortion protections, California geared up to fight.

“California will not stand idly by,” the state’s governor and legislative leaders said in a joint statement. As in other liberal-leaning states, officials and abortion providers vowed to ramp up abortion protections and turn California into an abortion safe haven.