ATLANTA, Ga. (CBS46) - Georgia political leaders and state officials are reacting to reports that the Supreme Court may soon strike down Roe v. Wade :
“As a woman, I am enraged by the continued assault on our right to control our bodies and our futures. As an American, I am appalled by the Supreme Court breach and its implications. As the next Governor of Georgia, I will defend the right to an abortion and fight for reproductive justice.”
Georgia is a state that values life at all stages. Governor Kemp led the fight to pass the strongest pro-life bill in the country and championed the law throughout legal challenges. We look forward to the Court issuing its final ruling, however, this unprecedented breach of U.S. Supreme Court protocol is deeply concerning.
“There is word tonight that Roe v. Wade may soon be overturned. Bonnie and I are hopeful that’s the case. This potential ruling shows the importance of the three conservative Supreme Court Justices we confirmed working with President Trump while I was in the U.S. Senate. When I’m Governor, Georgia will be the safest place in America for the unborn.”
“I have not lived a day on this Earth where I did not have the constitutional ability and autonomy to make decisions about my body and my future. We are now staring down a future where my daughter will not have these same rights. The Supreme Court’s decision isn’t just about women or reproductive freedom. It’s about restricting freedom for every American– the freedom to access contraception, or to marry who you love– freedoms that are based on the same constitutional foundation as Roe v. Wade. In 2019, I shared my story to speak out against Georgia’s six-week abortion ban, a ban that Chris Carr is currently defending. If this decision holds, Georgia is the next battleground for reproductive freedom, and we need an Attorney General who will fight for our right to choose. That’s why I’m running.”
“I’m heartbroken and angry about the leaked draft decision from the Supreme Court striking down Roe v. Wade. This is incredibly dangerous for women in Georgia. Our Republican controlled state legislature spent years passing trigger laws that would immediately go into effect once Roe v. Wade is overturned. These laws effectively ban abortions in all cases, including rape and incest. Women will die as a result of this decision. I’m more determined than ever to win my race and help elect Stacey Abrams and other candidates in Georgia who are unwaveringly committed to protecting our reproductive freedoms, including abortions, at every level of government. Bodily autonomy is a fundamental human right. There is no middle ground on this issue.”
“I am proud of the Supreme Court for voting to strike down Roe V Wade. It has been long overdue, as our country has faced an abortion epidemic. On average America murders 1,000,000 babies annually. It’s time to keep up the pressure and next defund Planned Parenthood.”
Others took to social media in response to the reports:
CBS46 reached out to Planned Parenthood for a statement.
“Let’s be clear: Abortion is legal. It is still your right. This leaked opinion is horrifying and unprecedented, and it confirms our worst fears: that the Supreme Court is prepared to end the constitutional right to abortion by overturning Roe v. Wade. While we have seen the writing on the wall for decades, it is no less devastating and comes just as anti-abortion rights groups unveil their ultimate plan to ban abortion nationwide. Understand that Planned Parenthood and our partners have been preparing for every possible outcome in this case and are built for the fight. Planned Parenthood health centers remain open, abortion is currently still legal, and we will continue to fight like hell to protect the right to access safe, legal abortion.”
I’m a pro-choice and pro-democracy candidate running for Secretary of State — as well as one of five sisters who comes from a family of strong and resilient women. Voting rights are central to reproductive rights; and an attack on one is an attack on the other. At this critical moment, it’s never been clearer that our future depends on electing leaders who will protect our votes and put our democracy first.
As a lawmaker in Georgia, I fought against the six-week abortion ban passed under a Republican-controlled legislature — a law that ignored the fact that a majority of Georgians and Americans support the right to choose. The hundreds of women who showed up at our State Capitol feared this moment would come — that when and if Roe v. Wade is struck down, the abortion ban in Georgia will likely become the law of our state.
The right to choose what we want for our own lives — from our economic decisions to our decisions about our personal lives — is sacred and fundamental. The Supreme Court’s expected decision would put all of our freedoms at risk. As a Georgia lawmaker, I cannot emphasize enough the importance of changing the leadership in our state – both within our legislature and across statewide offices. State officials will serve as the backstop to the coordinated attacks by Republicans to dismantle our freedoms. Voters have the opportunity to protect our freedom, health care accessibility, and democracy this year.
The extremely unprecedented and shocking leak of Justice Alito’s draft opinion overturning Roe v. Wade is exceeded only by the extraordinarily egregious edict expressed in the draft. Chief Justice Roberts has confirmed the draft’s authenticity by announcing an investigation into its leak, and for many, a grave fear is about to become reality. As the Supreme Court hacks away at women’s fundamental right to privacy, it shreds its own legitimacy, all while threatening the fundamental liberty of all who are not white men. The Supreme Court’s conservative majority has chosen a side in the Trump-Republican-led culture war, which imperils democracy for all. The future of our republic lies in the hands of the voters, if we are to restore and preserve freedom and liberty for all in America.
If the Court strikes down Roe v. Wade, the lives, health, privacy, and liberty of women nationwide will be relentlessly attacked by extreme laws that threaten women and their health care providers with imprisonment when a woman makes the deeply personal medical choice to terminate a pregnancy — even early in the first trimester.
“An overwhelming majority of Americans believe women should be free to make their own medical decisions about reproductive health in private consultation with their doctors and support the standards established in Roe v. Wade.
“Whatever course the Court chooses, I will sustain and strengthen my efforts in Congress to codify in Federal law the standards established by the landmark Roe v. Wade decision, which has played a vital role protecting women’s access to reproductive health care for fifty years.
I am very angry after seeing the draft opinion from the U.S. Supreme Court that could overturn the court’s decision to protect access to safe abortions. While this is a draft and votes can change and abortion is not illegal yet, the decision to overturn abortion rights seems inevitable. Overturning Roe v. Wade will allow states to decide whether or not to protect access to abortions.
“Access to abortion has always been under attack in Georgia. It is scary to admit, but Georgia Republicans will move to outlaw abortions and will make unprecedented attacks on all reproductive rights. This past session alone, several pieces of legislation that would have limited abortion access were introduced. Some Republican officials have even discussed calling a special session to end any abortion access in Georgia.
“Outlawing abortions will not stop abortions. It just limits the access to safe abortions. Just like any other bad policy, this would affect Black women, specifically poor Black women, the most. Black women have been known to be a target of criminalization. If abortion is outlawed, Black women will be targeted left and right at alarmingly high rates for miscarriages and still births. Women will also try to perform abortions at home, which could lead to lawmakers passing legislation to investigate miscarriages.
“As such, we need to take action and speak up. Now more than ever it is important for citizens to participate in our great democracy. I also want to urge the U.S. Senate to pass the Women's Health Protection Act of 2021, which would codify access to safe, legal abortions in this country.
“Our fight to protect a woman’s right to safe abortions will continue. The fight will be at our doorstep in the next year, and we’re going to need all the help we can get.
According to reputable reporting, The Supreme Court will vote to strike down the landmark Roe v. Wade decision, with an initial draft majority opinion written by Justice Samuel Alito.
I am deeply disturbed and angry. Our Republican controlled legislature has been preparing for this day, and women in Georgia are poised to lose our fundamental right to make our own health care decisions if the Supreme Court goes through with this ruling. Let’s be clear, this will cost women their lives.
This decision should be between a person and their doctor, not made by unaccountable jurists. I am proudly pro-choice and will continue to do everything in my power to advocate for reproductive freedom for my constituents in the 9th district and in Georgia.
Copyright 2022 WGCL. All rights reserved.
/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gray/AQ2GK5PFL5HPFPAQXGCASGHCNU.jpg)
/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gray/KJHQFFDDHBBCHD6YOXZPYP2PFA.jpg)
/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gray/NVBWMMFYJZBAPFNPY3XBM2FM7E.png)
/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gray/3AJGO6EENJEKTIY2JMKLKPNNU4.jpg)
/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gray/HDU5CHAYMBARBFDY6WLRQYJXGY.jpg)