Three years ago today, the U.S. Supreme Court struck down the right to abortion. It was the first time the nation’s highest court had eliminated a federal constitutional right.
Overnight, the Court’s decision in Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization upended the lives of millions of people across the country.
As a result of the overturning of Roe v. Wade, people throughout the nation have been struggling to access abortion and other reproductive care. Patients have experienced worse pregnancy complications and longer delays in care in states with abortion bans. Those who cannot get the care they need are forced to travel to other states or remain pregnant against their will, all the while extremist politicians attempt to shut down health centers, cut off access to affordable birth control, and target the providers who administer this lifesaving care.
The impacts of pushing abortion care out of reach fall disproportionately on the same communities who have always faced systemic barriers to care – communities of color, people with low incomes, immigrant communities, undocumented people, young people, the LGBTQ+ community, and people with disabilities.
Even though the fundamental right to abortion is legally protected in New Jersey, many people still cannot access the reproductive care they need. All New Jerseyans deserve access to affordable and comprehensive reproductive health care without barriers, fear, or stigma.
At a time when millions of people across the country are increasingly being stripped of their human right to make decisions about their lives and bodies, and the Trump administration continues to attack reproductive rights and health care, New Jersey must be a leader in ensuring that the right to abortion care is accessible for all who need it.
The ACLU of New Jersey calls on lawmakers to pass A4601/S3452, a bill that will dismantle financial barriers that limit access to reproductive health care, ensure that all qualified health care professionals are authorized to provide or assist in abortion care, and prohibit insurers from taking adverse actions against health care professionals. Send a message to your elected officials and urge them to expand access to abortion by passing A4601/S3452.
New Jerseyans’ fundamental right to reproductive autonomy, including abortion, must be protected and expanded to ensure every person has equitable and comprehensive access to reproductive health care. When we put people’s health, safety, and real-life needs first, we all have an opportunity to thrive.
Abortion access is essential, and we will keep fighting to defend it.
