By Kathy Tulumello and Taylor Seely |Arizona Republic
Arizonans responded quickly and powerfully to Friday’s U.S. Supreme Court ruling that Americans no longer have a constitutional right to abortion, for now placing the decision on what a woman’s reproductive rights might be on the state where she lives.
Here is a sampling of reactions.
Health professionals
Eloisa Lopez , executive director of Pro-Choice Arizona: “I’ve had three abortions, abortions that allowed me to become the loving parent I am today. I would choose another abortion without hesitation if I was pregnant and didn’t want to be. So the Court’s ruling may say abortion isn’t a right, but I can tell you that’s not true. Abortion is a human right. We knew the Court would fail us. The system is designed to fail the people, but we aren’t giving up. Arizonans will keep building power and fighting together to protect our rights. Our Abortion Fund is going to keep doing everything we can to support people seeking abortion care, especially people who’ve been told too often that their rights aren’t as important, like people from rural communities, Black, brown, Indigenous, and poor people. We’re going to keep showing up every day because our callers deserve a chance to get the abortions they need, without shame, without fear and without politics.”
Politicians
U.S. Sen. Kyrsten Sinema, D-Ariz.: “A woman’s health care choices should be between her, her family, and her doctor. Today’s decision overturning Roe v. Wade endangers the health and wellbeing of women in Arizona and across America. Throughout my time in Congress, I’ve always supported women’s access to health care, and I’ll continue working with anyone to protect women’s ability to make decisions about their futures.”
U.S. Sen. Mark Kelly, D-Ariz.: “Today’s decision is a giant step backward for our country. Women deserve the right to make their own decisions about abortion. It is just wrong that the next generation of women will have fewer freedoms than my grandmother did. In Arizona, there are already restrictive bans on the books that will take rights away from Arizona women, without exceptions even in the case of rape or incest. I know that this decision and these laws are leaving many Arizonans frustrated and scared. This is an all-hands-on-deck moment. I am resolved to defend and protect the right of Arizona women to make their own health care decisions.”
