Today would have been a celebration of 50 years of the Supreme Court decision Roe v. Wade upholding abortion access for millions of families had it not been overturned last year.

My team and I are feeling a lot of mixed emotions. For the first time, this anniversary is being observed in a post-Roe world. We’re angry, we’re sad, and we’re also determined to do whatever we can to defend abortion access at the federal level.

The fight to secure the right to reproductive healthcare and abortion is far from over, so whether you’re mourning today or recommitting yourself to the fight for justice, I want you to know that I’m standing right there beside you.

We must also recognize that many parts of the country were already living in a post-Roe world before last summer’s decision in Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health. Those communities, particularly Black and Brown communities in the south, are leading the way in our continued fight for reproductive justice.

I am committed to doing whatever I can to ensure that every family has access to the care they need and to get the government out of these deeply personal decisions.

Together, we will fight on,

Thank you,

Jahana Hayes