Planned Parenthood of the Pacific Southwest’s Statement on the 49th Anniversary of Roe v. Wade
Contact: Jillian Susi ([email protected])
For Immediate Release: Jan. 20, 2022
San Diego, CA - January 22, 2022 marks the 49th anniversary of Roe v. Wade, the landmark Supreme Court case that protected the legal right to abortion in the United States.
Below is a statement from Darrah DiGiorgio Johnson, President & CEO of Planned Parenthood of the Pacific Southwest:
“On the 49th anniversary of the landmark Supreme Court decision in Roe v. Wade, we commemorate this important milestone and call for action to protect and expand access to abortion across the nation.
“The freedom and power to decide if and when to start a family is a basic human right, and yet nearly half a century later, abortion is not a guaranteed right for millions across the country. In light of mounting attacks and threats to abortion access around the country, this year’s commemoration is more important than ever. The dark reality is that this year could be the last anniversary we get to celebrate, as the Supreme Court's decision in Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health could overturn or severely restrict Roe v. Wade.
“Recently, Guttmacher Institute issued a report showing the devastating effects on abortion access that would occur should the U.S. Supreme Court weaken or overturn Roe v. Wade. The report shows a 2,923% increase in out-of-state women of reproductive age who would find their nearest clinic now located in California. Additionally, if Roe falls, over half of all U.S. states could move to ban abortion. This data shows how dire the state of sexual and reproductive health care is across the country, and just how damaging it can be to restrict access to abortion.
“While we wait for the Supreme Court’s decision in Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health, we are not sitting still. Abortion providers in California, including Planned Parenthood, are preparing for a large influx of out of state patients come to our health centers and taking proactive measures to get ready to provide care to anyone who needs it. At Planned Parenthood of the Pacific Southwest, our work matters not only to our communities in our three-county region, but for people across the country. We will always fight back against any and all abortion bans, and continue to work until we can ensure that everyone has access to safe and legal abortion, no matter where they live.”