Commentary

NARAL Statement on Whole Woman’s Health v. Hellerstedt Decision


Washington, DC–(ENEWSPF)–June 27, 2016.  Ilyse Hogue, president of NARAL Pro-Choice America, issued the following statement in response to today’s Supreme Court decision in Whole Woman’s Health v. Hellerstedt:

“Today is a great day for women, for our commitment to our Constitution, and for the values of freedom and dignity that all Americans hold dear. The Supreme Court has powerfully reaffirmed a woman’s constitutional right to make her own decisions about her health, family, and future, no matter her zip code. This decision brings us one step closer to a world in which all women are empowered to exercise their reproductive freedom—including the right to a safe and legal abortion, which is supported by 7 in 10 Americans.

The Justices apparently saw what we already knew—that the Texas law under review and all those like it are never about protecting women. They are about trying to ban abortion and undermining a woman’s dignity and ability to determine her own future. The Supreme Court rightfully rejected this assault on our constitutional rights and said with a clear voice that attacks on access to safe and legal abortion care—even deceptive attacks like the Texas law—will not stand. This decision will help to stem the public health crisis in Texas by allowing the remaining clinics in Texas to keep their doors open, and it paves the way for new clinics to open and meet the needs of the millions of women in underserved areas of Texas.

The Whole Woman’s Health case has brought into focus how critical the November election is for protecting the basic constitutional rights of half of America’s population. Our next president will likely have at least one Supreme Court nominee and the contrast could not be starker. Hillary Clinton is a champion for reproductive freedom and empowering women and girls to take our country forward. Meanwhile, Donald Trump is committed to appointing justices who will once again make abortion illegal across the country, which has been instrumental to the support he has received from Republicans up and down the ticket. This is a pivotal moment in our nation’s history. NARAL is pulling out all the stops and contacting millions of voters through the primary and the general elections in order to make sure reproductive freedom and equality for women are at the top of voters’ minds when they go to the ballot box this November.

Voters across the country are calling for Republican leaders to #DoYourJob and stop obstructing justice by refusing to confirm a ninth justice to the Court. We are the majority and we will not be silenced by a vocal minority. Today, we recommit ourselves to protecting and expanding reproductive freedom for all by supporting legislation that respects our rights, elected officials who fight to preserve these rights, and candidates who understand the importance of appointing judges to the bench who respect our rights.”

NARAL has long fought against the restrictive, anti-choice TRAP laws that the court considered in the Whole Woman’s Health case. Ahead of the oral arguments in the case, NARAL released a video explainer on anti-choice TRAP laws and rallied thousands of members and supporters on the steps of the Supreme Court on argument day.

NARAL Pro-Choice America and its network of state affiliates are dedicated to protecting and expanding reproductive freedom for all Americans. NARAL works to guarantee that every woman has the right to make personal decisions regarding the full range of reproductive choices, including preventing unintended pregnancy, bearing healthy children, and choosing legal abortion. In recognition of its work defending our constitutional right to choose, Fortune Magazine described NARAL as “one of the top 10 advocacy groups in America.”

Source: http://www.prochoiceamerica.org

 

 

 


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