Black communities applaud U.S. Supreme Court abortion decision

Statement by Women With A Vision Executive Director Deon Haywood and In Our Own Voice: National Black Women’s Reproductive Justice Agenda President Marcela Howell on June Medical Services, LLC v. Gee

WASHINGTON — Today the Supreme Court issued a ruling in June Medical Services, LLC v. Gee to overturn Louisiana’s law requiring doctors who provide abortion care to have hospital admitting privileges, which would have left only one doctor to provide abortion care in the entire state. Women With A Vision Executive Director Deon Haywood and In Our Own Voice: National Black Women’s Reproductive Justice Agenda founder and President, Marcela Howell, issued the following statement:

“The U.S. Supreme Court’s decision to remove this medically unnecessary, politically motivated barrier between Louisianans and essential health care is a victory for all women and birthing people in the state, but especially for Louisiana’s Black women and other marginalized communities. Today’s ruling results from the long history of Black women leadership in the fight against systemic racism and sexism as we work to ensure safe, affordable healthcare for Black women, femmes, queer, trans and gender nonconforming people and youth. This decision removes just one barrier of many that we continue to face. Clearly more work remains.

“This victory is the result of Black women leaders’ unwavering strength throughout the long fight for Reproductive Justice in the South. We continue to be strong and resilient against these types of attacks on our most basic human right to reproductive autonomy. Reproductive Justice demands that we have the right to control our bodies, our sexuality, our gender, our work and our reproduction. Our fight requires not just overturning harmful reproductive health restrictions, but proactively demanding legal protections and societal change that address the health, safety and wellbeing of Black women and our families in all areas of our lives.”

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 leaders at the national, regional and state levels in our ongoing fight to secure Reproductive Justice for Black women, femmes, queer, trans and gender non-conforming people and youth. Our 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.