Black women denounce high court’s decision to let Kentucky abortion restriction stand

Statement from In Our Own Voice: National Black Women’s Reproductive Justice Agenda

Earlier this week, the U.S. Supreme Court rejected a challenge to a Kentucky law that forces doctors to describe ultrasound images and play fetal heartbeat sounds to patients seeking abortion. Marcela Howell, founder and president of In Our Own Voice: National Black Women’s Reproductive Justice Agenda, issued the following statement in response:

“We denounce the high court’s decision to allow Kentucky’s latest abortion restriction stand. The Kentucky law is clearly designed to make it harder to access abortion — once again putting anti-abortion politics ahead of pregnant people’s reproductive health and rights. Politicians should not be allowed to come between patients and their doctors when it comes to making decisions about whether or not to have an abortion.

“Reproductive Justice demands that we have the right to control our bodies, sexuality, gender, work and reproduction. Systemic racism and sexism have created tremendous barriers for Black women, femmes, queer, trans and gender non-conforming people and youth to access safe, affordable healthcare.

“We call on the justices to uphold access to safe, legal abortion even as they prepare to hear arguments in June Medical Services, LLC v. Gee, which challenges Louisiana’s law requiring abortion doctors to have hospital admitting privileges. If allowed to take effect, the Louisiana law would leave only abortion provider in the entire state.

###

In Our Own Voice: National Black Women’s Reproductive Justice Agenda is a national reproductive justice organization focused on lifting up the voices of Black women at the national and regional levels in our ongoing policy fight to secure reproductive justice for all women and girls. Our eight strategic partners include Black Women for Wellness, Black Women’s Health Imperative, New Voices for Reproductive Justice, SisterLove, Inc., SisterReach, SPARK Reproductive Justice NOW, The Afiya Center and Women With A Vision.