We Won’t Go Back!!

On Friday we heard the chant, ‘we won’t go back” at rallies all over the United States. In an era of regression & repression a woman’s right to choose her own healthcare has been obliterated. Now that the Supreme Court has issued its final decision we will need much more then that slogan.

In the 6-3 ruling ( I urge everyone to read the ruling) the Court found that there was no constitutional right to an abortion, turning the decision of whether or not to allow abortions or not up to the states. Millions of women will now loose access. Millions of women will loose affordable healthcare!

Having an abortion is the hardest decision any woman will have to make & that decision should only concern the woman & her doctor. Unfortunately in the federalism of the 21st century 6 Justices of this extremist right wing religious Supreme Court decided to put their personal beliefs into place. Women will now face possible arrest when faced with ectopic pregnancies, miscarriages & stillbirths. This ban will lead to a much higher percentage of pregnancy related deaths.

A woman’s ability to time childbirth & plan the number of children she will have is completely bond to her economic status & that of her family. For decades women came up against many abortion barriers including parental involvement laws, funding restrictions, mandatory wait periods that often forced them to have an abortion at a late stage of pregnancy. Now we add criminal prosecution for making a choice that often will save their lives & is no one’s business but theirs.

While support in the country for abortion has never been higher in favor of a woman’s right to choose there are Republican legislators who have made it clear everyday that if the power passes back to them in the next election they will move to ban abortion throughout the country. We face a future where unsafe abortions go hand in hand with state surveillance & criminalization of pregnant women, doctors, pharmacists, clinic staff, volunteers & family. Those that argue that this decision ONLY reverts back to states clearly don’t understand the ramifications. This ruling will negatively impact American women particularly those with little resources who find themselves living in states where their healthcare choice makes them criminals!

Further fights are coming. Contraception & IVF treatments, same sex marriage, LGBTQ rights will now be on the Courts list. Make no mistake that this extremist Court has opened that door wide. It’s what they were put there to do. The only way to stop this carnage is to vote for pro choice candidates up & down the ballot. In November when you go to the ballot box please remember that these rights will be taken away as quickly as this Court made a woman’s decision about her own life illegal!

If you are in need of an abortion please call 1-800-230-PLAN or go online to AbortionFindrrs.org