Schakowsky Statement on 49th Anniversary of Roe v. Wade
EVANSTON—Today, Congresswoman Jan Schakowsky, a Senior Chief Deputy Whip and Chair of the Pro-Choice Caucus Providers and Clinics Task Force, issued the following statement in recognition of the 49th Anniversary of the Supreme Court's Roe v. Wade decision:
"I remember when the Supreme Court decided, in a seven to two decision, to establish the legal right of American women to have an abortion. That was January 22nd, 1973 - 49 years ago this Saturday.
"And I remember the horrifying pre-Roe story my friend told me of her back-alley abortion. Yes, Roe v Wade wasn't the beginning of women having abortions; it promised the end of women dying from abortions.
"Today, the vast majority of all Americans believe that Roe should not be overturned. And Congress has the power to restore that right for all Americans. And for the first time in U.S. history, a body of Congress, the House of Representatives, passed legislation, the Women's Health Protection Act, that would codify abortion rights. 48 Senators have already committed to support that bill – not yet enough, but getting close.
"I see this right for women and girls as the most fundamental of rights, the threshold right. Without bodily autonomy, all other rights are thwarted. It becomes impossible to plan and control one's life and future without this basic right.
"This is the moment for Americans – women and men – to rise up and say NO! Women will not go back! This is literally a fight for our lives, and that fight requires a full-scale mobilization, organization, and determination. We need to take this fight to the ballot box.
"Justice Sonia Sotomayor warned of the "stench" of politics as the Supreme Court listened to arguments over the Mississippi abortion access case coming from the new Trump majority, a majority that does not represent the views of most Americans. But the right-wing Republicans that installed the justices who are taking away abortion rights, may rue the day. They have thrust the abortion issue back into the legislative – and electoral - arena and that could create a massive backlash this November.
"In fact, from local and state elections to the U.S. House and Senate races, this is the issue than could determine the outcome of the 2022 elections. Women and men who support abortion rights can fight to ensure that candidates who oppose this fundamental freedom are denied a victory on election day.
"Finally, we can't settle for an accommodation strategy in response to state laws like those in Texas and Mississippi. In the end, while it may be necessary, it will never be enough to raise funds for women and girls to travel to other states, or only build more clinics in pro-abortion rights states, or recruit more providers. In the end, nothing short of restoring this fundamental right in all states, for all people is acceptable! We must be fierce and fearless! We can do this!"
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