BREAKING: U.S. Supreme Court Just Overturned Roe v. Wade

ST. LOUIS - Today, the Supreme Court of the United States overturned Roe v. Wade, ending the constitutional right to abortion. The divided decision comes more than a month after the leaked draft opinion outlining how the Court would rely on centuries-old laws to outlaw abortion. The consequences of this devastating decision will fall largely on people who already face the greatest barriers to health care due to this country’s legacy of racism and discrimination against Black, Latino, and Indigenous communities, people with low incomes, LGBTQ+ people, immigrants, and people living in rural areas. 

Following today’s action by the Court, Reproductive Health Services of Planned Parenthood of the St. Louis Region notified the Missouri Department of Health that it has ceased abortion care at the last remaining clinic in Missouri. Missouri becomes one of 26 states poised to ban abortion completely. Enacted in 2019, Missouri’s “trigger ban” ended abortion access except for life-threatening emergencies and criminalize doctors who provide abortion. 

Statement from Yamelsie Rodríguez, President & CEO, Reproductive Health Services of Planned Parenthood of the St. Louis Region 

“Today is the worst-case scenario for 36 million people of reproductive age who live in 26 states including Missouri where abortion is now poised to be banned. Everything that led to the overturning of Roe should be a stain on our history from which we must learn and do better. This begins a rebuilding of a future with abortion equity — not just rights or access, but rights and access for all people. From this day on, we cannot accept compromise, middle ground, or ‘good enough’. We must demand a system that creates abortion access for all people who need it, no matter their identity, insurance status, or zip code.

“Reproductive Health Services of Planned Parenthood of the St. Louis Region joins our partners in committing to re-building this system, for as long as it takes. We’re not going anywhere. We’re just getting started.”

Missouri’s proximity to Illinois, one of 13 critical access states where patients will likely travel to for abortions, has given Missourians and people from surrounding states a place to go for care. In order to meet the expected surge of 14,000 additional patients, southern Illinois abortion providers and advocates are working with the Pritzker administration to ensure nurse practitioners and physician assistants can practice to the full extent of their training including providing aspiration abortions, commonly known as in-clinic abortions. Already, 12 states have expanded the pool of abortion providers to include nurse practitioners and physician assistants.

The Supreme Court’s actions are in defiance of the American people. Research shows abortion bans and restrictions are deeply unpopular: 

• A Washington Post-ABC poll finds that 75% of people say decisions on abortion should be left to the woman and her doctor, including 95% of Democrats, 81% of independents and 53% of Republicans.
• A Gallup poll finds that 80% of the American public think abortion should be legal.