OVERLAND PARK, KS - In a decision that will force millions of people into a life-threatening public health crisis, the U.S. Supreme Court has struck down Roe v. Wade along with its constitutional protections for abortion that people have relied on for nearly 50 years.
The decision paves the way for politicians to force women and all people who can become pregnant into a second-class status and denies them control over their own bodies. Let's be clear: Abortion is still legal in Kansas, but that could change quickly if politicians get their way in just a few weeks.
Abortion is on the ballot in Kansas on August 2, when an election will be held to determine whether we have power over our own bodies or whether the government can issue mandates to take away our bodily autonomy.
Let us be clear: No one should be forced to carry a pregnancy against their will or face the life-altering consequences of being denied essential health care. Forced pregnancy makes it more difficult to escape poverty, derails education and career plans, and can make leaving an abusive partner even more challenging and dangerous than it is already.
The impact of today’s U.S. Supreme Court falls disproportionately on the same people who have always faced systemic barriers to care – women, communities of color, the LGBTQ+ community, undocumented immigrants, young people, as well as those living in rural areas, people with disabilities and people with low incomes.
Politicians don't get the final say on our right to abortion — we do. This isn't over, our fight for reproductive justice and bodily autonomy will continue. That’s why we urge all Kansans to vote “no” on Aug. 2.
Access to abortion shouldn’t depend on where we live, how much money we make or the color of our skin. We should be able to make the best medical decisions for ourselves and for our families – without a government bureaucrat sitting on the exam room next to us.
# # #
About the ACLU of Kansas: The ACLU of Kansas is the statewide affiliate of the national American Civil Liberties Union. The ACLU of Kansas is dedicated to preserving and advancing the civil rights and legal freedoms guaranteed by the United States Constitution and the Bill of Rights. For more information, visit our website at www.aclukansas.org.
