Statement on the Senate Judiciary Committee’s Confirmation of Judge Amy Coney Barrett

BOSTON, Mass.– Rebecca Hart Holder, the Executive Director of NARAL Pro-Choice Massachusetts, the Commonwealth’s leading grassroots, pro-choice advocacy organization, issued the following statement on today’s Senate Judiciary Committee vote to confirm Judge Amy Coney Barrett to the United States Supreme Court:

“For years, reproductive freedom advocates across the country have seen anti-choice politicians dramatically shift the makeup of the federal courts. We have watched these changes and warned that Roe v. Wade could fall and, for years, we’ve been largely ignored. Today, our fears are coming true. Instead of focusing on economic relief for people and businesses impacted by COVID-19, the U.S. Senate is engaged in an anti-democratic process to fast-track the confirmation of another anti-choice justice. 

“The U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee’s approval of Judge Coney Barrett’s nomination is a very real threat to reproductive freedom—and to voting rights, LGBTQ rights, health care, racial justice, immigrant justice, environmental justice, and the integrity of our democracy. Should she be confirmed by the Senate, she will endanger our fundamental rights for decades to come. 

“Faced with such grave uncertainty about the future of the High Court, Massachusetts must lead by passing the ROE Act and removing anti-woman, anti-science barriers to abortion care. But we’re running out of time this session and frankly, the women and pregnant people of the Commonwealth should not have to wait until “Justice Coney Barrett” casts the deciding vote overturning the right to choose. Massachusetts needs to remove our politically-motivated barriers to abortion care now to ensure that all Bay Staters can actually access the safe, legal abortion care they need regardless of what happens in Washington.”

 ###

Contact:

Jon Latino

jon@prochoicemass.org

978 870 9388