SCOTUS Abortion Decision Is About Race Equity and Health Justice; Puts Power and Control in the Hands of Extreme, Authoritarian Policymakers

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 

June 24, 2022

CONTACT: Jack Cardinal, (781) 960-5208 | jcardinal@communitycatalyst.org

(BOSTON, MA) – Today, the Supreme Court of the United States (SCOTUS) released a majority opinion in Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization that undermines 50 years of judicial precedent and is part of a larger trend of racist, sexist, homphobic and transphobic policies rooted in power and control that impact all facets of a person’s life: freedom, safety, financial stability, childcare, paid family leave, and more. 

Statement of Community Catalyst Executive Director Emily Stewart in response to the Supreme Court’s majority decision on Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization:   

“The Supreme Court has allowed extremist, authoritarian policymakers to have power and control over a person's ability to make decisions about their own health and wellbeing. Beyond that, it undermines democracy by taking agency away from historically excluded communities that already face unprecedented restrictions on their bodies, decisions, family and life. 

“Abortion access is fundamental to a free and just society where everyone has what they need to be healthy, where everybody is cherished, where everyone’s happiness matters. And yet, the constitutional, legal right to abortion has never equated to access, especially for Black and brown people, people with low-incomes, and people in rural areas. 

“Policies that restrict a person’s ability to make their own decisions about pregnancy, based on their own unique circumstances, is a race equity and health justice issue. Black and brown women and birthing people already face high maternal mortality rates and inequitable health access as a result of centuries of structural and institutional racism. And, it’s no coincidence that states with the most restrictions on abortion are also standing between 2.2 million uninsured adults and a pathway to attaining affordable health insurance. 

“We understand that this is a beginning, not an end. We will continue to center our work on race equity and health justice by working in partnership with communities that have for too long been excluded from health policy and decision making. Together, we will build towards a society where health is a right for all.”

States with more restrictive abortion policies tend to have fewer supportive policies in place for parenting people and their families, and poorer maternal health outcomes which will only be exacerbated by the Supreme Court’s ruling. Research also shows that people who are denied abortion experience poor health outcomes, economic debt and are more likely to remain in a violent interpersonal relationship.  

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About Community Catalyst:  Community Catalyst is a leading non-profit national health advocacy organization dedicated to advancing a movement for health equity and justice. We partner with local, state and national advocates to leverage and build power so all people can influence decisions that affect their health. Health systems will not be accountable to people without a fully engaged and organized community voice. That’s why we work every day to ensure people’s interests are represented wherever important decisions about health and health care are made: in communities, state houses and on Capitol Hill. For more information, visit http://www.communitycatalyst.org. Follow us on Twitter @CommCatHealth.