Legislative Women’s Caucus Statement on leaked SCOTUS Draft Opinion to Strip Away Abortion Rights

SACRAMENTO – California Legislative Women’s Caucus Chair Assemblywoman Cristina Garcia (D-Bell Gardens) and Vice Chair Senator Nancy Skinner (D-Berkeley) released the following statements regarding the leaked draft opinion of the United States Supreme Court that would overturn the Roe v. Wade decision: 

“If SCOTUS adopts this deplorable draft decision and overturns Roe, it will not stop abortions but rather lead to unsafe and deadly abortions, especially for our most marginalized communities. Lack of access across the United States disproportionately affects communities of color, low-income communities, trans, and other marginalized communities. This fight is not just about a person’s right to control their own destiny, but about ensuring our most vulnerable community members have equal access. It’s about equity. This will be the first time my generation will lose a fundamental right — the right to choose, especially if you’re Black, Brown, LGBTQ, immigrant, or low-income,” said Assemblymember Garcia. 

“We saw it coming. California is prepared to be a refuge state for women here and across this nation. The Legislative Women’s Caucus stands with Senate Pro Tem Atkins, Assembly Speaker Rendon and Governor Newsom in support of a constitutional amendment to enshrine reproductive rights for all in California. We will be the national beacon for reproductive justice,” Assemblymember Garcia added.

“Unlike women before me, I grew up without having to face the choice of a back-alley abortion. I am outraged to learn that what we have feared is all too likely to come true: Millions of Americans will lose their legal right to make the very personal choice of whether to continue a pregnancy, no matter what the circumstance. Facing an unwanted and unplanned for pregnancy, I had my abortion legally and in a safe medical setting. If this leak is correct and Roe v. Wade is overturned, the Supreme Court will not prevent abortions, instead they will unleash unsafe and often deadly abortions. Decades of advocacy, hard work, and sacrifices made for the freedom to choose what happens to our own bodies will be completely undone. The Legislative Women’s Caucus and California will vigorously uphold reproductive freedom for all who live here and who come here,” said Senator Skinner.

Thirteen U.S. states have laws that will go into effect immediately if the Roe v. Wade decision is overturned: Arkansas, Idaho, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, North Dakota, Oklahoma, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, and Wyoming.

Assemblymember Garcia, Senator Skinner, and other members of the Women’s Caucus have authored a package of bills addressing the nationwide threat to women’s reproductive rights in accordance with recommendations from the Future of Abortion Council. The Women’s Caucus has listed all 13 of these bills as a priority for 2022.

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