Statement on Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization SCOTUS Decision
Today, the Supreme Court of the United States released an opinion on the Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization.
This decision overturns Roe v. Wade, the 1973 Supreme Court case that created safe and legal abortion access in the United States. At YWCA Spokane we stand with survivors and communities in their fight for bodily autonomy and personal safety.
In a recent poll from January 2022, 69% of Americans currently support upholding Roe v. Wade.
Access to reproductive healthcare is an economic issue, a health issue, and a safety issue.
Financial strain is the number one reason individuals seek out an abortion. Of those who wanted an abortion, “72 percent of those who were denied care ended up living in poverty.” As a domestic violence service organization, it is our mission to restore autonomy and freedom to all people, including our clients.
Nearly half of our states have laws in place banning abortion. In several states, Black and Latino people make up a majority of those receiving abortion care, according to the CDC. Decisions to ban abortion that are made by majority white lawmakers take bodily autonomy away from Black and brown individuals.
In addition to removing bodily autonomy from many Americans, these new abortion bans pose a threat to our personal privacy and security. The way the opinion was written by the Supreme Court lays the groundwork for other rights such as gay marriage, trans rights, and interracial marriage to be overturned as well.
While Washington state is strengthening abortion access, our neighboring state of Idaho is amongst those who are banning abortion care beyond 6 weeks. Our local abortion providers have already seen an uptick in clients from out of state, as far away as Texas. Even though few patients are able to afford to travel, many will do whatever is necessary to access this care. To avoid overwhelm of our local healthcare system we must do what we can to support abortion access nationwide.
When abortion is not legally and safely accessible, pregnant individuals may seek other alternatives. According to Amnesty International, “unsafe abortions are the third leading cause of maternal deaths worldwide.” The U.S. already has one of the highest maternal mortality rates in the developed world.
Take Action Today!
Visit the Planned Parenthood Action Fund website to find out how you can take action to support access to reproductive healthcare.
Learn More Here
By: Rachel Dannen
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