We condemn the Supreme Court’s decision to end what used to be the constitutionally protected right to seek abortion; what is really our right to make our own decisions about what happens to our own bodies. We are alarmed because this issue affects our most vulnerable and marginalized communities in a disproportionate way. We are devastated by this ruling because it potentially criminalizes all pregnancies. We are appalled because we see the overturning of Roe v Wade, as alluded by Justice Thomas, as putting other rights of Americans as the next target, such as access to contraception and same-sex marriage.
For the last 50 years, women have had a right to seek and obtain an abortion, under certain circumstances, as a constitutionally protected right without question. On Thursday women had a fundamental healthcare right and on Friday the Supreme Court voted in favor of taking that right away. While we are very lucky to live in California, a state where this healthcare option will remain available to those that need it, we are deeply concerned for women in the 26 states where bans are either currently in place or moving to enact them.
This decision by the Supreme Court will overwhelmingly affect African American, Hispanic, Asian American, Pacific Islander, Native American, and indigent communities. Restricted access to abortions has repeatedly been shown to have deleterious effects on women’s educational and economic attainment, mental health, physical health, and mortality rates. Access to abortion is more than simply an issue of morality, it is an issue of female and racial equality and is a step back from decreasing the economic disparities already experienced in marginalized communities.
While many of you may not agree with abortion, the reasoning used in the Dobbs decision to overturn Roe v. Wade should be extremely concerning. While we cannot know the future intentions of the current Supreme Court justices, this decision has called into question the very underpinnings of other important supreme court decisions currently protected under the 14th Amendment. Many privacy rights were built upon Roe v. Wade and the reasoning used to overturn it has the potential to erode gains made for same-sex marriage, access to contraception, voting rights, same-sex relationships, your data, and medical records.
We need to take action! March, write, speak up for your rights!
If you want to learn more about the new laws, family planning, contraceptives, and safe abortions go to https://www.plannedparenthood.org/, a training, and employer-partner of Bay Area Medical Academy.
Planned Parenthood delivers vital reproductive health care, sex education, and information to millions of people in the US and worldwide.
For a list of Abortion-Rights rallies close to you go to https://www.bloomberg.com/…/roe-v-wade-protests-marches…
