Will SCOTUS Overturn Roe v Wade?

The recently leaked U.S. Supreme Court decision is a draft representing the court’s conservative majority. If the essential content of the draft remains in the final decision—which is expected—here’s what will happen.

The Roe v Wade SCOTUS decision of 1973 will be overturned, and we will lose our constitutional right to abortion previously assured by Roe. This will allow each state to pass its own abortion laws, however draconian and misogynistic. Counting on the end of Roe’s protections, some states have already passed so-called “trigger laws” that will go into effect when Roe is overturned, restricting or outright banning abortion.

A projected half or more of our states will make the restrictions against abortion even more severe than those currently in place. Some will prohibit abortions under any circumstances—even rape, incest, and risk to the mother’s life. Some will ban medication abortions. At least one state, Louisiana, is already working on legislation to criminalize abortion as homicide.

If you support reproductive justice (RJ)—if you support legal, accessible, and safe abortions—be aware that the court’s likely decision will have far-ranging repercussions beyond bodily autonomy for people able to become pregnant.

Overturning Roe v Wade will further empower the radical right to challenge other civil and human rights: access to contraception, same-gender marriage, transgender rights, LGBTQ+ adoption rights. They might even attempt a national abortion ban.

If you do support reproductive justice—if you do support legal, accessible, and safe abortions—what can you do?

Plenty!

1. Make your reproductive justice voice heard!

Email, write, or phone President Biden and your two U.S. senators to urge them to do whatever is necessary to codify Roe v. Wade. Although the Women’s Health Protection Act passed in the House in 2021, it is unlikely to pass in the Senate without significantly more pro-reproductive rights senators, so a new effort is necessary—as is supporting RJ elected representatives.

Remember, you do NOT need to be a citizen to contact your elected representatives.

President Joe Biden

Contact information: https://www.whitehouse.gov/get-involved/write-or-call/ Senator Dianne Feinstein

331 Hart Senate Office Building Washington DC 20510 (202) 224-3841 Email: https://www.feinstein.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/e-mail-me

Senator Alex Padilla 112 Hart Senate Office Building Washington DC 20510 (202) 224-3553

Email: https://www.padilla.senate.gov/contact/contact-form/ If you live in another state, find your senators here. See below for a sample letter or email message. Find your member of the House of Representatives here.

2. Support RJ candidates.

a. Volunteer on RJ candidates’ campaigns. You do NOT need to be a citizen to support RJ candidates. Here are some websites that will help you identify RJ candidates. NARAL Endorsed California Statewide and State Legislative Candidates:

https://prochoicecalifornia.org/elections/endorsements/ NARAL Endorsed Candidates for Federal Office: https://candidates.prochoiceamerica.org/page/candidates SD County Democratic Party Endorsements (unfortunately, this is the closest thing to a list of local RJ candidates): https://www.sddemocrats.org/candidates.html

b. Vote for RJ candidates and incumbents running for reelection. To vote in the June 7, 2022 Primary Election, you must be registered to vote no later than 15 days before the election. So, if you are qualified to register, aim to do so by 20 May.

You can learn more and register online here.

3. Shout out for women’s bodily autonomy and reproductive justice!

a. Let your friends and family know that you care about reproductive justice.

b. Let folks know, wherever you go, that you’re part of the pro-Roe v Wade majority in the U.S. Wear pro-abortion buttons, put bumper stickers on your vehicle, water bottle, your backpack—everywhere.

c. Learn more about abortion pills and share the information with those who need it.

d. And, if you’ve had an abortion and are comfortable doing so, shout your abortion!

SAMPLE LETTERS OR EMAIL MESSAGES (You can rewrite these in your own words.)

Sample message to the President:

[date]

Dear President Biden,

Roe v Wade is about to be overturned, so I urge you to do whatever it takes to encode Roe v. Wade to protect reproductive freedom in the United States. Whatever it takes!

I am counting on you to protect our essential right to bodily autonomy, to control each our own destiny. The U.S. majority in support of reproductive justice is counting on you.

Please don’t abandon women to a second-class existence.

Please be bold, use you power, and do the right thing.

Sincerely,

[Your name]

[Your address]

...............................................

Sample message to each of your two senators and your member of the House—one letter or email message to each:

[date]

Dear Senator [Last name],

OR

Dear Representative [Last name],

Roe v Wade is about to be overturned, so I urge you to do whatever it takes to codify Roe v. Wade to protect reproductive freedom in the United States. Whatever it takes!

I am counting on you to protect our essential right to bodily autonomy, to control each our own destiny. The U.S. majority in support of reproductive justice is counting on you.

Please don’t abandon women to a second-class existence.

Please be bold, use you power, and do the right thing.

Sincerely,

[Your name]

[Your address]

..................................................

Now, a moment of levity to spur you on to reproductive justice action: