Statement from Building Back Together Executive Director Danielle Melfi on Supreme Court Decision Overturning Roe v. Wade

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: June 24, 2022
PRESS CONTACT: [email protected]

STATEMENT FROM BUILDING BACK TOGETHER EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR DANIELLE MELFI ON SUPREME COURT DECISION OVERTURNING ROE V. WADE

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Building Back Together Executive Director Danielle Melfi released the following statement on the Supreme Court’s decision overturning Roe v. Wade:

“For nearly half a century, Roe v. Wade was the law of the land and protected the freedom to access abortion — a right callously discarded by conservatives on the Court this morning. Today, the Court has empowered politicians to make decisions about a woman’s life and body that should only be between her and her doctor.

This decision wrongly, and for the first time, strips millions of a fundamental right, and it will have dangerous effects across the country — particularly in states where MAGA lawmakers have already imposed trigger laws that will immediately ban abortion in their communities. Today’s decision is even more horrific in light of Justice Thomas’ concurrence, which indicates that conservatives on the Court are poised to go even further and overturn other fundamental rights, including access to contraception, same-sex marriage, and the right to privacy. President Biden remains committed to using every tool at his disposal to defend our freedoms from attacks levied by the extreme MAGA party, including defending the freedom to travel to seek care and calling on HHS and the FDA to expand access to mifepristone across the country.

“We stand in solidarity with all those whose health, safety, and rights are directly threatened by this dangerous decision, particularly low-income people and people of color, who we know will suffer the most as a result of the Court’s ruling. Above all, we know the fight for abortion rights is far from over – people still need abortion care, and we need more allies in office across the country who will defend this fundamental right. Along with the Biden-Harris Administration, we will continue to fight for the freedoms established under Roe and stand in strong opposition to the MAGA party’s scheme to criminalize and punish those seeking abortion. We refuse to go back.”

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