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Access to abortion is hanging in the balance. On March 4, the Supreme Court heard a case that puts our reproductive freedom on the line. There are already only three abortion providers left in Louisiana. But we're fighting for more than those clinics. This is a fight for the reproductive freedom of everyone in America.
What's the deal with this Supreme Court case?
The case, called June Medical Services, concerns a Louisiana law that bans doctors from performing abortions unless they have admitting privileges at a local hospital. That might sound reasonable enough, but it's actually an unnecessary restriction that has nothing to do with patient safety, and everything to do with shutting down abortion clinics for purely political reasons.
An identical restriction in Texas was declared unconstitutional in a 2016 Supreme Court case, Whole Woman's Health v. Hellerstedt. What's the difference between 2016 and 2020? There shouldn't be any difference, but now Justices Kavanaugh and Gorsuch are on the court.
Wait. Does that mean Roe v. Wade is in danger?
Roe v. Wade gives every person the right to an abortion, and Louisiana hasn't asked the Court to take that right completely away. However, if the Supreme Court upholds Louisiana's restrictive law, it would open a dangerous precedent for other states to place similar unfair restrictions on abortion access. Although every person would technically have the "right" to abortion, as granted in Roe v. Wade, access would no longer be protected because many providers could be forced to close their doors — and what good are rights if you can't actually exercise them?
And keep in mind that far too many people — particularly people of color and people with low incomes — already live in a world where access to abortion is nearly unattainable. A Supreme Court decision that dismantles Roe would exacerbate existing inequities and barriers to accessing abortion that so many people already face.
The Supreme Court wouldn't allow this, right?… Right?
We just don't know. Remember Justice Kennedy, who voted to protect abortion access in Whole Woman's Health, retired and was replaced with Justice Kavanaugh. Justice Gorsuch, who also had a record of ruling against access to reproductive health care, has since joined the court too. So there's no telling what the outcome could be.
What happens if we lose?
First things first: Planned Parenthood Action Fund will never stop fighting to ensure that every single person can access the care they need to live the life they want. But let's keep it real: if upheld, the law at issue in June Medical Services could leave millions of people of reproductive age vulnerable to similarly restrictive laws. We will fight those battles together if we have to, but now is the time to speak up in support of abortion access and prevent a worst-case scenario.
Okay, what can I do now to fight this?
There's good news: even though it may look like things aren't great, the numbers tell a different story. 77% of Americans support safe, legal abortion right now — the highest that number has ever been. But, if the majority stays silent, the minority wins.
As nine justices prepare to deliver a final ruling, we need to be prepared for whatever comes our way. Donate to Planned Parenthood Action Fund now so together we can defend our rights no matter what »
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