Following the release of a draft opinion by the U.S. Supreme Court signaling a decision has been made to overturn Roe v. Wade, the co-chairs of the Reproductive Freedom Caucus, Senators Mary Kunesh, Lindsey Port, Jen McEwen, and Representatives Jamie Becker-Finn, Kelly Morrison, and Athena Hollins, issued the following statement:
“Last night, a draft Supreme Court decision authored by Justice Alito was publicly leaked. It details an extreme position to overturn the landmark Roe v. Wade decision, ending the guarantee of safe and legal abortions across our country, while threatening other fundamental rights like marriage equality, interracial marriage, and access to contraception. We must respond with the urgency this extremism requires.
“It is important to note that this is a draft decision likely to be released in June, and that legal abortion remains the law of the land at this point. If you have an appointment seeking reproductive care, keep it. If you need reproductive care, you can still access it.
“If Roe v. Wade is overturned nationally, abortion would remain legal in Minnesota. We have the protections in place, with a pro-choice Governor, to block attacks on reproductive care. However, we do not have pro-choice majorities in either the House or the Senate, and have been unable to codify the right to abortion care or expand access to all who need it.
“Last night’s news makes clear that reproductive freedom must be made a priority next session, and we need pro-choice majorities in both chambers to make that happen. We must pass the Protect Reproductive Options (PRO) Act, the Patients’ Right to Know Act, and fight any efforts to restrict these fundamental rights in Minnesota.”
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