Statement from the ROE Act Coalition on the Anniversary of Roe v. Wade
For Immediate Release: Jan. 22, 2020
Forty-seven years ago, Roe v. Wade was a milestone for our country and a major victory for bodily autonomy and basic human rights. Today, we are reminded of all of those who came before us to fight for fundamental freedoms and reproductive rights.
Across this country, anti-abortion politicians are defying the Constitution to deny access to abortion. What they want is simple. They want to turn back the clock and take us back to a time before Roe v. Wade. A time when women were forced to put their health and safety at risk in order to make their own personal medical decisions and live a life of their own making.
Massachusetts has the opportunity to fight back against the tide, and to fully realize the promise of Roe v. Wade by passing the ROE Act. While the right to abortion is guaranteed by our state constitution, that right does not translate into equitable access for everyone. Today in Massachusetts, our young people are forced to go through the court system to get health care, delaying care, taking away medical options, and traumatizing and shaming them in the process. The ROE Act will ensure young people can access health care and support from medical professionals—and improve access to abortion for all people in our state.
Nearly 50 years after Roe v. Wade was decided, one thing remains clear: our resolve could not be stronger, and the need to keep fighting for abortion access could not be greater. The stakes are simply too high.
Background:
The ROE Act Coalition is a statewide coalition committed to passing the ROE Act to protect and expand access to abortion in Massachusetts. Founding organizations include the ACLU of Massachusetts, NARAL Pro-Choice Massachusetts, and Planned Parenthood Advocacy Fund of Massachusetts.
The ROE Act, among other provisions, builds safeguards for young people seeking abortion care; codifies abortion in the pregnancy-related safety-net coverage provided to Massachusetts residents ineligible for MassHealth coverage; ensures access to abortion after 24 weeks of pregnancy in cases of fatal fetal diagnosis; reforms state law to remove inflammatory definitions and medically unnecessary restrictions; and codifies the principles of reproductive freedom into state law.