Leaked Supreme Court Opinion—Alito issues majority opinion overturning Roe
For Immediate Release: May 11, 2022 (Updated: May 3, 2022, noon)
CINCINNATI — A leaked draft obtained by POLITICO shows the U.S. Supreme Court has voted to strike down Roe v Wade. Roe v Wade guarantees federal constitutional protections of abortion rights and was reaffirmed by a second decision, Planned Parenthood v Casey. Abortion is still legal in Ohio right now.
Statement from Kersha Deibel, President & CEO, Planned Parenthood Southwest Ohio Region:
“What’s important to know is that today, right now, abortion is legal in Ohio.
This news comes as no shock but is still gut wrenching to witness. There is no doubt that this opinion, if realized, will have a lasting impact around the world for generations. The fact that folks have been gathering at the steps of the Supreme Court into the late hours of the night tells us one thing: this decision does not represent the needs of the people. We will not give up. We will continue to fight for access to abortion because abortion is health care and health care is a human right. This changes nothing for us in this moment. We will continue to open our doors, continue to see our patients, and continue to take care of those who need us. No matter what.”
Statement from Dr. Sharon Liner, Medical Director, Planned Parenthood Southwest Ohio Region:
“To see what the generations before us fought tirelessly for is now in jeopardy after nearly 50 years of precedent is rattling. Even as Roe stands, there are barriers to accessing abortion and other health care services—these have always existed and Black, Latino, Indigenous, and other people of color disproportionately feel the effects of abortion bans and restrictions. Challenges like finding child care, taking time off of work, and navigating the costs of transportation and lodging associated with traveling hundreds or even thousands of miles. These are issues we as health care providers help our patients navigate daily. If Roe is overturned, it does not mean that abortions will no longer happen but the number of people dealing with these obstacles to get the essential health care they need will skyrocket, particularly in the Midwest—including Ohio.”
Statement from Lauren Blauvelt-Copelin, Vice President of Government Affairs and Public Advocacy:
To say this ruling is devastating is an understatement. Abortion is health care and supported by 80% of Americans. It should not be stigmatized, and it absolutely should not be illegal. While the leaked decision is a draft, we know the outcome will be the end of legal abortion in most of America including here in Ohio. Do not wait. Get involved. Together, we will get through this, and we will fight back stronger than before.
Planned Parenthood Southwest Ohio Region alongside Planned Parenthood Advocates of Ohio will be rallying in Cincinnati (11:30am at Fountain Square) on May 14th. Abortion is still legal in Ohio right now.
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About Planned Parenthood Southwest Ohio Region
Serving 20 counties in southwestern Ohio and three in northern Kentucky and with five health centers throughout the region, it is Planned Parenthood’s goal to provide reproductive health care services to any individual who wants or needs them, to advocate public policies which guarantee each individual's access to services, to advocate individual’s right to privacy and their ability to make reproductive decisions free of coercion and to provide human sexuality education which enhances the health and well-being of individuals in the community. Planned Parenthood Southwest Ohio Region is an affiliate of Planned Parenthood Federation of America.