Dear John,
A group of leading reproductive rights organizations have just announced the formation of the Abortion Defense Network—which will serve to connect those facing abortion-related legal threats with attorneys who can provide advice and representation. Such threats have only grown in scope and magnitude since last June’s ruling in Dobbs v. Jackson, which overturned Roe v. Wade.
Supporting those under threat and fighting back is all the more important in the face of an upcoming decision from a far-right Texas judge that could potentially ban the abortion medication mifepristone, which is currently used in over half of abortions nationwide.
In a powerful speech on the floor of the Senate, Sen. Ron Wyden (D-OR), called on the Biden administration and the FDA to keep mifepristone on the market, and to ignore the judge’s adverse ruling.
“While this wouldn’t be the first time a judicial decision has caused irreparable harm to others, this case is particularly egregious,” he said. “It will come from a lawless judge, picked by the litigants with no standing to bring a case that should be barred by the statute of limitations and has absolutely no merit.”
In calling on officials to ignore the ruling, Sen. Wyden continued, “There are moments in history where Americans and their leaders must look at circumstances like this one and say, ‘Enough.’ Not ‘let’s see how the appeals process plays out,’ or ‘let’s hope Congress can fix this down the road.’ Just, ‘Enough.’”
With each new attack on women’s rights here in the U.S, the need for final congressional action on the ERA grows more urgent. The Senate Judiciary Committee will hold a hearing on Tuesday—the first Senate hearing on the ERA since 1984—on the proposed S.J. Res. 4 to remove the timeline for the ratification for the ERA. A growing coalition of constitutional law scholars argue the Senate resolution which would declare the ERA duly ratified and a part of the constitution, can be passed by a simple majority vote and is not subject to the filibuster.
As Ms. contributing editor Carrie Baker reports in her piece, “These groundbreaking arguments have given new hope to lawmakers and ERA advocates that the amendment will finally be recognized.”
Finally, as Black history month transitions into women’s history month early next week, we’re thinking about how all these struggles are interconnected—as we’re sure you’re very aware. Highlighting the interconnections in our struggles is something Ms. has been devoted to since day one—and that we think is more important than ever in the face of patriarchal threats to our safety and autonomy.
Onward,
