7 Things You Need to Know About the SCOTUS Roe v. Wade Decision and How YOU Can Take Action.
last updated June 30, 2022
The Supreme Court has abolished the constitutional right to safe, legal abortion. Each state can now decide to ban abortion, denying women of critical reproductive health care, and criminalizing women and anyone even suspected of assisting women who seek to obtain an abortion. Know this:
1. The number of women seeking abortions will not go down.
1 in 4 women will undergo an abortion before they turn 45 years old. Data shows that about two-thirds of Americans don’t think Roe V. Wade should be overturned, and the vast majority of Americans - somewhere between 85 and 90 percent, according to most polls - think abortion should be legal in at least some circumstances. Abortion bans do nothing to impact demand. Women seeking abortions may turn to dangerous and illegal measures putting more lives at risk.
2. Banning Abortion will have disproportionate effects.
Prior to this Supreme Court decision, abortion was already out of reach for many young people and people of color all over the U.S. due to cost and increasingly restrictive state laws. People who might have already struggled to afford an abortion will be forced to cover additional expenses, to travel long distances if they are somehow able to even get an appointment for abortion services. Others will be forced to carry their pregnancies to term possibly without exception for rape, incest, or to protect the life of the mother and baby. The current generation only knows a life with protections and access to abortion on the federal level because it has been legal for the past nearly 50 years. Access to reproductive healthcare could continue to be eliminated for current and future generations.
3. This affects more than just abortion.
The consequences of this decision go beyond reproductive rights! Roe was built on the 14th Amendment - a constitutional right that also protects LGBTQIA+ rights, interracial marriage, and even contraceptive use. Can you imagine a world where you can’t marry who you want or where you can’t use contraception to prevent pregnancy? While not completely dependent on Roe v. Wade, the principles of the right to marry, the right to contraception, the right to intimacy and who you are intimate with, and the right to personal control of medical treatment are all undermined by this Supreme Court decision.
4. Every state will be affected.
Trigger laws in 28 states are already criminalizing abortion, imprisoning doctors, preventing women from seeking abortions in other states, banning abortion pills, and/or targeting people seeking abortions and those who support them. Oklahoma passed a bill that would ban abortions from the stage of “fertilization,” like soon after having sex, and allow private citizens to sue abortion providers who “knowingly” perform or induce an abortion “on a pregnant woman.” But even the states that do not criminalize abortion will be affected. These states with protections or less restrictive bans will become the nearest provider for out-of-state patients, causing potential strain on clinics and providers.
5. Some states have moved to protect reproductive rights.
16 states and Washington, D.C. have enacted legislation to strengthen and solidify access to abortion. Some of the legislative protections for abortion, similar to bans, have come about in response to the Supreme Court decision. Officials in states that have codified abortion access are preparing for potential strain on their healthcare systems, as bans in neighboring states will drive patients to seek reproductive care where it is legal. Some of these states have signed bills into law that will protect both patients and providers from the reach of abortion bans, such as protection from being extradited to other states. A few states have even moved to increase funds to further support abortion access.
6. You can still do something. You can still make your voice heard.
Marching and voting are not mutually exclusive! Headed to a march? Use our QR code to put on the back of your sign or poster to easily help folks make sure they are registered to vote on the go! One of the most impactful actions you can take is to register now and vote this November for those who support reproductive justice and will protect a woman’s access to safe, legal abortion. Start by verifying your voter registration! This is a great step to take if you recently moved, changed your name or just want to double check. If you’re not registered, register now and make sure you know how to vote in your state for politicians who believe that each of us should be able to live, work, and make decisions about our health and our future with dignity and respect.
7. You can use your talent and your voice.
Are you a singer? Make some music to express how you feel. Dancer? Move it out. Use your passions, hobbies, and talents to share your thoughts and feelings. We work with incredible influencers every day who put their activism where their social media is. We help them take what they do best and use it to keep their audience informed. Sharing how you feel, especially on social media, can be vulnerable, but if you find that you are passionate about the bodily autonomy and freedom of all people, it can be a wonderful way to start a conversation, spread education and help others take action! Feel free to share any of our images and QR codes and get your peers registered to vote by using our toolkit powered by VoteAmerica!
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