Today the Supreme Court decision of Dobbs V. Jackson Women’s Health Organization overturned the constitutional right to abortion as recognized for nearly 50 years. The League of Women Voters of the Worcester Area stands firm in our commitment to the reproductive rights of women and in solidarity with those who support a woman’s right to choose. We fear the dangerous consequences of this action today. We encourage our members and all those who believe in reproductive freedom to use their voices, their votes, and their marching feet to fight this catastrophic decision. For Massachusetts residents, this means fighting to further strengthen protections for patients and for providers, and to enhance reproductive care capacity in our state.

Today the League of Women Voters of the United States President Dr. Deborah Turner and CEO Virginia Kase Solomón issued the following statement in response to the decision:  

“Today’s ruling strips women and those who may become pregnant of their bodily autonomy and will have devastating — and immediate — consequences across the country. While the Court’s opinion was expected, its harm is extreme and real. When women and those who can become pregnant can no longer make reproductive decisions for their own bodies, they are no longer equal individuals in our democracy. This harm will exacerbate societal inequalities and fall disproportionately on people of color and low-income communities already facing egregious obstacles to health care.  

"The decision foreshadows the erosion of other well-established Constitutional rights including marriage equality, access to contraception, and the right to engage in private, consensual intimate conduct. 

"The dissenting Justices get it exactly right: today’s majority opinion is an assault on the constitutional guarantee to equal protection of the laws and the right to due process. With this decision, BIPOC, LGBTQIA+, and other historically marginalized communities have no guarantees that their civil rights will be protected.  

"The League of Women Voters stands in our power with our reproductive partners and all persons who fear the dangerous consequences of this decision. We will use our anger to fight in the legislatures, in the courts, and in the streets. We call on our elected leaders at the state and federal levels to act swiftly to restore bodily autonomy to all people.  

"Women hold the power to create a more perfect democracy. We will not stand by as constitutional rights are stripped away, one by one. Women’s rights are human rights, and we will continue to fight until the right to abortion is restored. Our lives depend on it.”  
 

In solidarity,

The Executive Committee of the League of Women Voters of the Worcester Area

Linda Yates, President
Alyssa Mancinelli, Vice President
Erin Jansky, Vice President
Shelley Rodman, Secretary
Lisa Brennan, Treasurer