Black women denounce U.S. Supreme Court medication abortion decision

Statement by In Our Own Voice: National Black Women’s Reproductive Justice Agenda President Marcela Howell

WASHINGTON — Today, the U.S. Supreme Court issued a ruling that reinstates requirements that women seeking medication abortions must do so in-person, reversing a lower court, which ruled that the requirement is dangerous due to the pandemic. In Our Own Voice: National Black Women’s Reproductive Justice Agenda President and CEO Marcela Howell issued the following statement:

“The U.S. Supreme Court’s decision to reinstate this medically unnecessary, politically motivated barrier to access medical abortion endangers all women and birthing people, but especially Black women. After years of stacking the high court, we face justices with complete disregard for reproductive health and disdain for reproductive rights.

“Reproductive Justice demands that we have the right to control our bodies and our reproduction. Our fight requires not just overturning harmful reproductive health restrictions, such as this, but also implementing policies and laws that protect and promote the health, safety and wellbeing of Black women and our families.

“We urge the Biden-Harris administration and the new Congress to immediately take action to remove barriers to accessing abortion care. Not only must Congress ensure that people have access to medication abortion, they must repeal the Hyde Amendment so that women who depend on the government for health care also have access to abortion.”

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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.