ROE Act Coalition statement on Supreme Court decision in June Medical Services v. Russo

BOSTON – The U.S. Supreme Court issued a decision this morning, striking down a Louisiana law that was designed to close abortion clinics and cut off access.

The ROE Act Coalition issued the following statement in response:

“The U.S. Supreme Court struck down an anti-abortion law in Louisiana. This decision affirms that the state cannot force people to overcome substantial obstacles to access basic medical care. Still, the right to access abortion in our country remains precarious. Safe, legal abortion must be accessible. For far too many, access to abortion still remains a right on paper only. Nothing about the decision in June Medical Services v. Russo changes the fact that millions of people face politically-motivated barriers designed to put abortion care out of reach. Even with the important decision today, people of color, low-income people, LGBTQ people, and people in rural communities struggle to access abortion care.

“Now is the moment for Massachusetts has the chance to lead the nation on reproductive freedom movement and shift the tide from restricting reproductive freedom to protecting and expanding it by passing the ROE Act. Barriers entrenched in Massachusetts state law still tie the hands of providers and put abortion out of reach for many people; the ROE Act would remove these barriers and ensure that all Bay Staters have access to the care they need.”

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.

###

Contact:

Jon Latino

jon@prochoicemass.org

978-870-9388