Foreshadowed by an early May leak, the Supreme Court voted on June 24, 2022, to overturn Roe v Wade, a landmark Scotus case that constitutionally protected people’s right to choose to have an abortion.  States can now decide to ban abortion; 13 states have “trigger bans,” designed to take effect the moment Roe was overturned, and a number of other Republican-led states are expected to move to ban abortion as well. The overturn of Roe opens up the possibility of a nationwide abortion ban. 

For the future of women, this voting means that many young girls today will come of age with fewer reproductive rights than their mothers or grandmothers. The court's opinion means that "from the very moment of fertilization, a woman has no rights to speak of. A state can force her to bring a pregnancy to term even at the steepest personal and familial costs." An increasing amount of women will pass away as a result of dangerous self-induced abortions from back-alley procedures, pills, or herbs that can terminate a pregnancy; as well as forced risky pregnancies. In addition, because many procedures and medications that treat miscarriages are the same ones for abortions, this could even threaten the treatment for a miscarriage. 

Though over half of the nation will place laws and restrictions against providers and patients of abortion, the state of California does not fall under that category due to its robust protection against anti-abortion sentiment. California’s Governor Gavin Newson pledged for California to be a safe haven for patients seeking abortion practices. On Friday, Newson signed AB1666 to protect patients and providers in California from facing civil liability in other states for providing, receiving, or aiding in abortion care. Although the sunshine state is not in direct danger regarding the legality of abortion, the state is determined to preserve and provide protection and services to patients seeking it nationwide. 

You can contribute to the fight by protesting, volunteering, starting conversations in your community, and, most importantly, voting. Donate your time or funds to organizations in impacted states, such as The Yellowhammer Fun in Alabama, SisterSong in Georgia, Preterm in Ohio, or the National Network of Abortion Funds nationwide. As we prepare for midterm elections and for the 2024 national election, we have to center abortion in public debates and ask elected officials where they stand on reproductive rights, demand commitments to protecting abortion access and spread the word to other voters.

Blog Sources: aclu.org, forbes.com, latimes.com, reproductiverights.org, plannedparenthoodaction.org, and gq.com

Image Source: vanityfair.com