OPINION: How the Trump Supreme Court set women’s rights back 50 years

The Trump-appointed Supreme Court justices ruled on Roe v. June 24, 2022. Women’s rights in our country were set back 50 years when Wade provided the margin to overturn his case. Back then, women couldn’t get a credit card or buy birth control without their husband’s permission. Women’s careers were limited and women did not have equality in sports or income. Even if the pregnancy was the result of rape or incest, women had to resort to backstreet abortions.

But this is the 21st century, and the United States is a global leader in many ways, including economic power, democracy, and freedom. Our progress has been an example to many other countries, and a key part of this success has been the recognition of women’s rights, including the right to make decisions about their bodies. Until recently, this was a right that was supported nationally and improved equality and opportunities for women across the country.

Women’s health is intertwined with the economy. Access to reproductive health services leads to greater economic security for women and their families. For women to be part of a strong engine of economic growth, we need access to healthcare, including reproductive health services. In short, when more women work, our economy is stronger. The opposite is also true.

Why is abortion now illegal in 20 states? Donald Trump invoked the landmark 1973 decision Roe v. which generally protected women’s right to abortion. He appointed three Supreme Court justices who voted to overturn the Wade case. Trump, Roe v. He says he’s proud to have killed Wade and is proud to be “the most pro-life president in American history.”

Leaving women’s health care to states means that a woman’s health care choices are a function of where we live. This change causes many women to become seriously ill or even die because we cannot get the health care we need in their situation. Leaving it up to the states means that one in three women of reproductive age lives in a state where Trump has implemented an abortion ban. And don’t believe Trump when he says he doesn’t support a national abortion ban. When Congress tried to pass a national abortion ban in 2017, Trump approved it and promised to sign it.

We witness the devastating effects of the Dobbs decision every day: teenagers forced to carry children because of incest, or women bleeding to death in hospital parking lots because they are afraid of doctors. States across our country have passed laws criminalizing doctors, penalizing women, and threatening them with prison time simply for reproductive care. Many of these laws have no exceptions for rape or incest.

Taking away women’s rights harms our economic health, democracy and freedom. This is a fight for our freedom (the basic freedom to decide about our bodies) and not to let the government tell women what we can and can’t do. Kamala Harris trusts women to know what is in their best interest. If Congress passes legislation that would restore national protections of Roe, Harris will sign it.

Please join us in voting for Kamala Harris. No matter where you live, you will work to protect women’s rights in our country.

Monica Anderson, Eleanor Andrews, Sarah Barton, Carla Beam, Clare Bertucio, Deborah Bonito, Judy Brady, Kay Brown, Nina Brudie, Becky Bunde, Donna Burch, Susan Clark, Diane DiSanto, Linda Duck, Lyn Franks, Michael Fredericks, Patty Ginsburg , Donna Goldsmith, Trish Gorman, Marilyn Heiman, Kimberly Homme, Barbara Hood, Susan Humphrey Barnett, Bonnie L. Jack, Linda Janidlo, Mary Ann Kerosky, Sarah Kleedehn, Janie Leask, Riki Lebman, Ilona Leider, Debra Lowney, Guadalupe Marroquin, Donna Matthews, Kimberly Metcalfe, Dana McAlpine, Molly McCammon, Jo Michalski, Diane Moxness, Angie Newby, Vickie Otte, Alia Parker, Patrice Parker, Irène Persson-Gamble, Margaret Pugh, Ann Rappoport, Susan Reeves, Mary Ann Renkert, Diana Rhoades , Leslie Ridle, Beth Rose, Elise Rose, Marilyn Russel, Meg Simonian, Veronica Slajer, Beth Snyder, Susan Soule, Carolyn Strand, Schawna Thoma, Cindy Thomas, Kate Troll, Fran Ulmer And Wendy Wolf Alaska women support Kamala Harris for US presidency.

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