Planned Parenthood Affiliates of California Statement on Lawsuit Against Texas Abortion Ban

July 13, 2021
Jennifer Wonnacott, VP of Communications and Campaigns
[email protected]

SACRAMENTO -- Planned Parenthood Affiliates of California (PPAC) released the following statement from President/CEO Jodi Hicks in response to the lawsuit filed by Planned Parenthood Federation of America, Center for Reproductive Rights, ACLU, and ACLU of Texas, the Lawyering Project, and Morrison & Foerster LLP against Texas’ S.B. 8 which bans abortion at six weeks and includes an unprecedented provision that asks private individuals — including anti-abortion protestors with no connection to the patient — to file lawsuits seeking “enforcement” of the ban:

“Planned Parenthood in California stands in solidarity with providers and patients throughout Texas in their fight for access to abortion and health equity. We know attacks like these disproportionately harm people of color, people with low-income, and folks living in rural areas — those already facing disparities in access and quality of care most recently laid bare by the COVID-19 pandemic. The cruelty is the point, and has been proven time and again by these dangerous policies.

“Additionally, the Supreme Court is set to hear a case that could overturn Roe — potentially opening the floodgates for similarly harmful bans across the country. In the face of this reality, and if these unconstitutional attacks on people’s reproductive health care and right to access abortion are allowed to stand, California will continue to protect and expand access to care, and will stand with and support patients who may be forced to seek care out-of-state. 

“We are proud to be part of one of the organizations taking action, and will continue to work with providers and patients across the country to support their efforts to protect the right for everyone to make their own decisions about their health and their future. No matter what state someone lives in, every person should be able to make their own decisions about their health and their bodies — including about abortion. No one should have their most personal medical decisions controlled by politicians, neighbors, complete strangers, or anyone else.”

You can read the full complaint here. 

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Planned Parenthood Affiliates of California (PPAC) is the state public policy office representing California’s seven separately incorporated Planned Parenthood affiliates. Through advocacy and electoral action, PPAC promotes sound public policy in areas of sexual and reproductive health care and sex education.