Supreme Court ruling condones deceptive tactics of fake women’s health centers, puts Roe at risk
For Immediate Release: June 26, 2018
Contact: [email protected]
After the Supreme Court ruled 5-4 in NIFLA v. Becerra, NARAL Pro-Choice America President Ilyse Hogue issued the following statement:
“One vote: That’s the difference between ending the lies and deception at fake women’s health centers or letting them off the hook for their dangerous and deceptive practices. The deception at fake women’s health centers is real, but five Justices still refused to act on behalf of women who need accurate information to make the best decisions for our families and our lives. Today, the Supreme Court turned its back on women and condoned the deceptive tactics used by fake women’s health centers.
“One vote made all the difference today, and it could also be the only thing between upholding Roe or outlawing legal abortion in America. Fake women’s health centers, with the rest of the well-funded and well-connected anti-choice movement, have been working towards this moment for decades. They have carefully put the pieces together—passing radical and unconstitutional abortion bans, stacking the lower courts—because they are counting on Trump’s Supreme Court to overturn Roe v Wade.
“Roe is at greater risk than ever before, and we can’t let them win. The anti-choice movement is not going to give up—and neither are we, because too much is at stake. We are going to get right back up, and we’re going to keep fighting to end the lies at fake women’s health centers, end the lies from President Trump and his administration, and end the lies from anti-choice politicians in state houses and in Congress because women deserve the truth.”
NIFLA v. Becerra was brought by the National Institute of Family and Life Advocates, an anti-choice nonprofit, and two of its member fake women’s health centers, challenging California’s Reproductive Freedom, Accountability, Comprehensive Care, and Transparency (FACT) Act. The FACT Act is a straightforward law that helps provide important, accurate, and honest information to pregnant women; makes sure anyone who claims they provide medical advice and/or medical care is held to a high standard of honesty and professionalism; and makes sure women receive accurate information about their full range of options and programs related to pregnancy and family planning. Federal district courts rejected NIFLA’s arguments, and the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 9th Circuit affirmed the lower courts’ rulings. Last fall, the Supreme Court agreed to hear whether the disclosures violate the First Amendment’s free speech clause, but declined to hear their challenge based on the free exercise of religion clause.