For Immediate Release: June 24, 2022
Media Contacts: Claire Connolly; [email protected]
Statement from Melissa Fowler, National Abortion Federation’s Chief Program Officer:
“The Supreme Court’s decision to end the constitutional right to abortion by overturning Roe v. Wade in the Dobbs case is abhorrent. Today’s decision confirms the worst-case scenario that reproductive rights advocates have been bracing for and this is a heartbreaking day. This decision will gut abortion access in half of the states and have an absolutely devastating impact on those in need of essential abortion care in many parts of the country. We will not stay silent and we will not be deterred; we will continue to do everything in our power to help people access abortion care.
While this ruling does not make abortion illegal, 26 states are poised to ban abortion quickly in the absence of Roe. At the same time, a number of states are working to protect and expand abortion access, and some abortion providers have been preparing for an influx of patients to these states.
Roe may have fallen today, but we are still standing. NAF is working closely with our members to navigate how this ruling will impact abortion care in each state and how we can together ensure access to essential abortion care for all who need it. That includes providing security services to clinics that are likely to see a rise in harassment and violence from extremists emboldened by this ruling. Today, we also released our 2021 Violence and Disruption Statistics, which show a significant increase in stalking (600%), blockades (450%), hoax devices/suspicious packages (163%), invasions (129%), and assault and battery (128%).
We know that navigating this patchwork of laws will be confusing. Anyone who needs abortion care can call the NAF Hotline at 1-800-772-9100 and speak to one of our experienced Hotline staff who can help you locate an abortion provider, arrange travel out of state if needed, and provide financial assistance. We remain focused on making sure anyone who needs an abortion can access the care they need, no what they look like, how much money they have, or where they live. This is just the beginning of a new fight; we will not stop working until we have ensured everyone in this country has the ability to make decisions about their own bodies, their own medical care, and their own lives.”