For Immediate Release; October 26, 2020
Media Contacts: press@prochoice.org; 202-918-7768
Statement of The Very Reverend Katherine Ragsdale, President and CEO of the National Abortion Federation (NAF), on the Supreme Court nomination of Judge Amy Coney Barrett:
As an organization that represents abortion providers, we are appalled at what tonight’s confirmation of Judge Amy Coney Barrett means for our members, their patients, and the future of abortion care in this country.
We adamantly opposed Barrett’s nomination because, although she spent her confirmation hearing dodging questions, her judicial record and writings make it clear that she holds extreme anti-choice views. With Justice Barrett on the Supreme Court, abortion access—including the future of Roe v. Wade—is in jeopardy. And there is more at stake than just Roe. The Supreme Court is the final defense against dangerous attacks on all basic rights and precious freedoms that affect the most important parts of our lives, including our access to health care, racial equity, voting rights, protections for immigrants and workers, and marriage equality.
It is infuriating that politicians rushed through such an important confirmation in the service of partisan politics—especially when so many of us are grappling with a global pandemic, worrying about the future of our health care coverage, and reeling from the racial injustice and unrest across the country. Instead of working toward relief for their constituents, politicians chose to rush through a confirmation for a lifetime appointment to our nation’s highest court. This sham confirmation was both hypocritical and out of step with the wishes of people in this country—many of whom have already voted in the 2020 election and believe the next Supreme Court justice should not have been confirmed until after the inauguration.
Although we are outraged by tonight’s confirmation, NAF and our members will continue to ensure that patients can overcome barriers so they can access the abortion care they need. Abortion providers fought for their patients’ rights long before Roe v. Wade and our members will continue doing so even after Barrett joins the Supreme Court.
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The National Abortion Federation (NAF) is the professional association of abortion providers. Our members include individuals, private and non-profit clinics, Planned Parenthood affiliates, women’s health centers, physicians’ offices, and hospitals in the U.S. and Canada. Our members also include public hospitals and both public and private clinics in Mexico City and private clinics in Colombia. NAF unites, represents, serves, and supports abortion providers in delivering patient-centered, evidence-based care.