Pennsylvania Governor, Democrat Tom Wolf, hosted a press conference with the First Lady, members of Planned Parenthood, and other public officials discussing the potential dismantling of the landmark Roe v. Wade decision to protect access to abortion.
Wolf reaffirmed his stance to protect abortion access in Pennsylvania.
“The right to bodily autonomy is under attack. Overturning Roe v. Wade isn’t about preserving life. It’s about exerting control. I don’t think it’s possible to overemphasize the seismic shift this represents in America’s approach to privacy, to personal autonomy, to health care rights,” said Governor Wolf. “I stand today assuring Pennsylvanians that abortion access and reproductive health care will remain legal and safe as long as I am governor.”
Since taking office, Wolf has championed abortion access by vetoing three different anti-abortion bills passed by Pennsylvania’s General Assembly and vowed to veto the rest.
The controversial document
It was leaked thatSupreme Court could end the right to abortion in the United States, according to a court’s page draft obtained by the media outletPolitico.
If the document is finally approved, it would tear apart nearly 50 years of constitutional protections for women.
The 98-page draft was authored by Justice Samuel Alitoand distributed inside the conservative-dominated court, according to Politico.
The text labels the historic 1973Roe v. Wadedecision enshrining abortion rights as “appallingly wrong from the start” and that Roe and Casey (a 1992 decision known as thePlanned Parenthood v. Caseycase, in which the court guaranteed a woman’s right to abort until the fetus is viable outside the womb –usually between 22 and 24 weeks gestation-) ”should be overturned.”
It might interest you: OMS: El mundo registra la menor incidencia de COVID
Abortion under heavy fire
Reproductive rights have come under increasing threat in the United States in recent months, as states intended to tighten restrictions.
Right-wing politicians have launched an attack on abortion, while Democrats, bedinning with President Joe Biden, are fighting to protect access to the procedure.
In December, hearing oral arguments on a Mississippilaw that could ban most abortions after 15 weeks, the Supreme Court’s conservative majority seemed inclined not only to uphold the state rule but to overturn the decision of Roe vs. Wade.
Safe and legal
“Abortion is still safe and legal. Planned Parenthood Southeastern Pennsylvania is still providing abortion care,” said Dayle Steinberg, President & CEO of Planned Parenthood Southeastern Pennsylvania. “The Supreme Court’s leaked draft opinion is an unprecedented, gut-wrenching blow to our freedoms. The consequences of this impending decision will be swift and devastating for communities nationwide“.
Steinberg stated that women are responsible for their personal medical decisions and neither politicians, bans, or court rulings should interfere in their ability to access abortion.
“Generations before us have fought tirelessly to gain and protect the rights we have today. Planned Parenthood will not back down. We are furious, and we will fight back”, Steinberg said.
Wolf believes is a duty to protect the rights of women, not only in Pennsylvania but also in the entire country, especially in the states that don’t have a governor willing to wield their veto pen.
It might interest you:
Noticias Newswire
