For Immediate Release: January 22, 2019
In honor of the 46th anniversary of the landmark Roe v. Wade Supreme Court ruling, NARAL Pro-Choice America President Ilyse Hogue issued the following statement:
“Today, we recognize Roe v. Wade as a landmark decision, one of the most valued in our nation’s history. Roe isn’t just a Supreme Court case, it’s a promise that every woman is given the power and dignity to make decisions about something as personal as her own life, body, and future.
“And yet, this anniversary is anything but a joyous celebration. We cannot celebrate when an anti-choice movement hellbent on controlling women has spent the past few decades stealing our courts, our statehouses, and now our White House—all with the ultimate goal of outlawing abortion in this country. We cannot celebrate when, because of the anti-choice movement’s decades-long vendetta, the reality of Roe means that so many people across our country go without access to essential healthcare. We will not rest until the vast majority—7 in 10 Americans—who believe in access to safe and legal abortion are represented, not ignored in service of an out-of-touch ideology that seeks to control every aspect of our autonomy.
“That’s why NARAL fights this fight. As Roe turns 46, NARAL is also celebrating its 50th anniversary this year. Decades ago, the founders of NARAL worked to make Roe possible so that women have the ability to control their own futures and decide their own destinies. Today, we look back on NARAL’s history, using the strength of our founders as inspiration to face today’s fight to protect and reaffirm that very same right. Now, NARAL’s 2 million members stand stronger than ever, ready to not just defend Roe, but make reproductive freedom a reality for all.”
Visit NARAL’s medium page to read more about the 46th anniversary of Roe, and how NARAL will fight on. Also, see here for Anna North’s story (“Roe v. Wade is at risk, but abortion rights groups see surprising opportunities for gains”) in Vox on NARAL’s new “Reality of Roe” campaign, launched today.
NARAL Pro-Choice America and its network of state affiliates are dedicated to protecting and expanding reproductive freedom for all Americans. NARAL works to guarantee that every woman has the right to make personal decisions regarding the full range of reproductive choices, including preventing unintended pregnancy, bearing healthy children, and choosing legal abortion. In recognition of its work defending our constitutional right to choose, Fortune Magazine described NARAL as “one of the top 10 advocacy groups in America.”