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Dobbs v. Jackson WHO – What now?

| Jun 24, 2022

We knew this was coming, but that doesn’t make it any easier.

Today, the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision in Dobbs v. Jackson Whole Women’s Health Organization reversed a nearly 50-year legal precedent established in Roe v. Wade: that abortion is a fundamental constitutional right. The Court in Dobbs upheld the Mississippi law that bans abortion after 15 weeks, and ruled that states have the right to restrict or ban abortion access entirely.

The consequences of this decision will be devastating. Thirteen states have laws already in place to ban abortion now that Roe has been overturned. An estimated twenty-six states are poised to move quickly to ban abortion, leaving more than 36 million women of reproductive age – and other people who can become pregnant – without abortion access. And these effects will fall disproportionately on BIPOC communities who already feel the effects of abortion bans and restrictions more heavily. The efforts to ban abortion and remove people’s rights to bodily autonomy spring from this country’s legacy of white supremacy and discrimination, a legacy that overturning Roe will perpetuate.

As our president, Jocelyn Frye stated, “We should also be clear that overturning Roe v. Wade will not bring an end to the attack on abortion; rather, this is only the next step of a broader agenda by extremist politicians to push for a nationwide total ban on abortion at the federal level that they have wanted all along.”

So – what now?

Support the organizations that provide direct support to people who need abortion care & work to destigmatize abortions

Advocate for policies at the state level

  • Follow Lay of the Land to get the latest developments on the status of abortion rights in your state and be ready to contact your state representatives to oppose restrictions on abortion access and urge support for laws that protect abortion care.
  • Use the Bans off our Bodies Talking Points to highlight the impact of the Dobbs decision on BIPOC people, LGBTQ folks, people with disabilities, immigrants, and young people.

Continue to educate yourself on equitable reproductive health policies

Read more on our reaction to the Dobbs decision

If you or someone you know is seeking abortion care, you can find trusted providers and additional resources at INeedAnA.com. If you have questions about your legal rights, contact If/When/How’s Repro Legal Helpline.