The Supreme Court of the United States of America Issues Devastating Decision Overturning Roe v. Wade
ACLU of Utah is Ready to Pursue All Avenues to Defend Abortion Access & Reproductive Freedoms
SALT LAKE CITY, UT— The Supreme Court issued a shameful ruling today in Dobbs v. Jackson Women's Health Organization which ultimately resulted in the overturning of Roe v. Wade — the landmark decision recognizing the constitutional right to abortion nearly 50 years ago. In 2020, the Utah legislature passed a “trigger law”, S.B. 174, that will ban and criminalize almost all abortions inside the state with extremely limited exceptions. At this time, we are awaiting news if this law will go into effect.
This decision is an unprecedented attack on the rights of many. Utah will not be the only state to feel the effects of the Dobbs v. Jackson Women's Health Organization decision. It will set off a chain reaction with Utah and many other regions of the country banning abortion and criminalizing essential care. It will deny women and other people who can become pregnant the right to decide for themselves whether and when to become a parent.
The ACLU of Utah is working with partners and providers to respond to this ruling and fight back. Our team will take every avenue to defend reproductive justice in the State of Utah.
In response to the ruling, Aaron Welcher, Communications Director of the American Civil Liberties Union of Utah, issued the following statement:
"Today, the Supreme Court of the United States overturned Roe v. Wade, taking away a fundamental right that people have relied on for nearly 50 years. And even though a majority of Utahns support access to abortion care, politicians have continuously passed state laws that delay and obstruct access to care, force providers to close their doors, or ban abortion altogether. In 2020, the same year the Utah legislature passed our state's trigger law, the ACLU of Utah, Planned Parenthood Association of Utah, and Alliance for a Better Utah polled people in Utah for their opinions on abortion access. Nearly 80% of Utahns said the state didn't need new restrictions on abortions. These laws disproportionately harm people with low incomes, people of color, young people, LGBTQ+ people, and others who already face barriers to accessing health care.
Banning abortion will have an immediate and devastating impact on women and all people who can become pregnant, taking from them a right that has been central to their ability to plan their lives, families, and careers. Because of the decision today, the burdens will continue to disproportionately fall on BIPOC individuals, those struggling to make ends meet, young people, rural residents, immigrants, and LGBTQ+ communities. Banning access to and criminalizing abortion can result in pregnancy losses being subject to suspicion, investigation, and arrest, and patients and doctors facing criminal felony charges and jail.
Our campaign for reproductive freedom does not end here today, the fight existed long before Roe v. Wade, and we will keep defending this right after today."
Anti-abortion policies have for too long put Utah on the wrong side of history. The ACLU of Utah and our partners are determined to mobilize our supporters to ensure our voices are heard as we fight back against current and future anti-abortion policies.
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Resources for journalists reporting on abortion access and this case can be found at: https://prh.org/reporterresource/
