Today, the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade, eliminating the constitutional right to abortion and undoing 50 years of precedent on one of the country’s most contentious issues.
The decision to overturn Roe is “one of the few times the Supreme Court has ever invalidated an earlier decision that declared a constitutional right — and the only time it took away a right that had considerable public support,” reports NBC News.
Minutes after the decision was announced, Missouri became the first state to ban all abortions, except in cases of medical emergency. Twelve other states have similar trigger laws that will automatically go into effect within 30 days, jeopardizing the health and lives of millions of women. Nearly half of U.S. states are expected to ban or severely restrict access to abortion.
“It’s a sad day for the court and for the country,” President Biden stated, speaking from the White House. “The health and life of women in this nation are now at risk …Too often the case, poor women are going to be hit the hardest.”
“The only way we can secure a woman’s right to choose,” he continued, “is for Congress to restore the protections of Roe v. Wade as federal law. No executive action from the president can do that.” Biden urged Americans to make their voices heard in midterm elections this fall and elect more pro-choice representatives.
Roe may have been overturned, but the fight isn’t over. Many personal freedoms are on the ballot this fall, Biden noted. Americans can still elect state leaders who will protect abortion access at the local level, and senators who will pass federal legislation protecting abortion rights.
Until then, the president pledged to do everything within his administration’s power to protect women’s rights, also noting that the Supreme Court’s decision does not prevent women from traveling to another state to receive an abortion.
Many states have signed abortion access rights into law. Sixteen states, plus the District of Columbia, have laws that protect the right to abortion: four states and the District of Columbia have codified the right to abortion, and 12 states permit abortion prior to the point of fetal viability or when medically necessary to protect the life or health of the pregnant person. View a list of state abortion policies here.
What can you do now?
Donate to abortion funds that provide funding, travel, lodging, and other supports for people seeking abortion at abortionfunds.org.
Find a community. Attend a local rally or protest, and if possible, join a local group dedicated to protecting reproductive rights. It’s important to connect with others who feel the same in order to process your feelings and know that you’re not alone.
Consider purchasing abortion pills or emergency contraception to keep on hand if you may need it. Learn more about abortion pills at plancpills.org.
Join the fight to expand the Supreme Court. The Judiciary Act of 2021, which would add four seats to the court, now has more than 50 co-sponsors in Congress. Visit Take Back the Court to learn more.
Use period tracking apps with caution. If you are a woman of child-bearing age, exercise caution if using any period-tracking apps. Many activists are urging women to delete these apps on the grounds that customer data may be shared and ultimately used to determine if a woman may have terminated a pregnancy. HIPAA protections do not apply to period apps. If the app doesn’t have a clear privacy policy, don’t use it.
The CEOs of Clue have pledged to never turn user data over to any authorities who could use it against them.
Continue to pay attention as midterm elections approach. Today’s decision prompted a joint statement from the leaders of the Democratic National Committee and the party’s campaign committees for House, Senate and governor, stating:
The 2022 election will now determine whether new, cruel, and punishing restrictions will be put in place on women and families. With Republicans in power, states could make abortion illegal without exceptions for rape, incest, and the life of the mother, and women and doctors could be charged with a crime if they have or perform an abortion.
The stakes of November’s elections could not be higher – and voters will make their voices heard by standing with Democrats up and down the ballot.
