The United States Supreme Court overturned decades of precedent today with their decision to effectively throw out the landmark 1973 Roe v. Wade decision, which protected a woman’s right to make the incredibly personal decision to have an abortion.
Members of the House Democratic Caucus issued the following statements:
Representative Geraldine Thompson (D-Windermere) stated, “We see the result of stacking the courts with Federalist Society members who are willing to rule based on a political agenda rather than respecting a woman’s right to privacy and bodily autonomy.”
Representative Joy Goff-Marcil (D-Maitland) said, “Today, the Supreme Court released an anticipated, but devastating decision that will poorly affect women and members of the LGBTQIA+ community for decades to come. I am completely and utterly distraught.
This decision regresses us back 50+ years and it is the first time in history that a constitutional right has been revoked. The decision to overturn Roe v. Wade is discriminatory against all marginalized groups and it is a threat to basic human rights including: safe and legal abortions, contraception, and same sex marriage.
Today, we mourn. Tomorrow, we act. I stand firm in the belief that people are capable and deserving of the right to decide what is best for their bodies. I have always, and will remain committed to opposing legislation that restricts reproductive freedoms.”
Representative Daryl Campbell (D- Fort Lauderdale) added, “”The Supreme Court decision to inhumanely overturn Roe V. Wade is a travesty and has left our nation in turmoil.
We expect our government to serve the vast and ever-growing landscape that is America, but this decision upends almost 50 years of established reproductive health rights in our country and represents a major pull backwards.
Today, every American should be saddened and upset at the regressive measures this court has taken. Reproductive rights and justice are inalienable rights of any human being, and when women are stripped of their control of their bodily autonomy, then everyone else’s is also threatened. Until all of us are free, none of us are free!
This decision will harm the same people that are on the frontlines of regressive policies and judicial decisions, minority and low-income communities.
This is a direct attack on all WOMEN! The issue of abortion is not an isolated issue, but represents an intersectionality between individuals, families, and communities.
Like many, I am saddened by this decision, yet this has only strengthened my resolve to continue being an ally and engaging others to actively participate in this fight for reproductive rights and freedom!
Speak up, but most importantly, VOTE!”
Representative Robin Bartleman (D-Weston) said, “As someone who was faced with the decision to end a much wanted pregnancy, I can tell you it is a deeply personal and painful decision. The idea that women, including my daughters, will no longer have the ability to make decisions about their bodies is devastating. Extreme legislatures will ban ALL abortions. I can’t fathom a situation where a woman or child is raped and forced to carry a pregnancy, where the life of the mother is not taken into consideration. This is incomprehensible and sets a terrifying precedent.”
Representative Kevin Chambliss (D-Homestead) added, “It’s clear that the US Supreme Court has ignored the reproductive rights of women to make a very personal decision with their bodies. This ruling sets this nation backward and will force many women, especially low-income women, to search for dangerous abortion options. Rather than allow a woman and her doctor to make the best decision for her, the Justices have decided to strip them of their rights and give the authority to the states to intrude into the wombs. In states governed by Republicans, such as Florida, the choice to make abortion illegal will become political football that will hold women’s rights hostage.”
Representative Michele Rayner said, “The Supreme Court decision today effectively overturns Roe v. Wade and peels back federal protections. Here in Florida, the laws would default to the abortion ban passed recently which doesn’t make exceptions even for incest or rape. Millions of women lost a fundamental constitutional protection today despite these protections being overwhelmingly supported by a majority of Americans. I am committed to doing everything in my power to reverse the harm this decision has caused and to fight for people’s right to access safe abortions.”
