COLUMBUS — The Ohio Democratic Party and Ohio Democratic Women’s Caucus released the following statement in response to today’s U.S. Supreme Court decision striking down a dangerous Louisiana law that is designed to shut down abortion clinics.
From Ohio Democratic Party Chairman David Pepper:
“Today’s Supreme Court ruling is good news — but the fight to protect reproductive freedom is far from over. Under then-Gov. John Kasich and the GOP-led legislature, Ohio enacted more than 20 restrictions on abortion, and half of the state’s abortion clinics were forced to shut their doors. With Mike DeWine as governor, the Republican politicians at the Statehouse have continued to attack access to reproductive health care. They have proposed legislation that could lead to doctors and patients being charged with murder, and DeWine refuses to say whether he would sign the bill. Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost even tried to use the coronavirus crisis as an excuse to attack abortion access.
“Even after Ohio Republicans have passed law after law attacking reproductive freedom — harmful laws that have been blocked again and again — they keep trying to insert themselves in the intensely personal decision of whether or not to continue with a pregnancy and become a parent.”
From Ohio Democratic Women’s Caucus Chairwoman Kathy DiCristofaro:
“All people should have the freedom to make their own decisions about their health, their families, their lives and their futures. Dangerous laws like the one in this case were designed to shut down abortion clinics. There are no medical reasons for these types of restrictions — and they harm the women and families they purport to help.
“The anti-choice movement has spent decades working to decimate access to abortion, state by state, law by law. This Louisiana law is one part of a coordinated effort by the anti-choice radical right to overturn Roe v. Wade and advance their agenda of power and control. Republican politicians will keep trying to attack reproductive freedom, but support for Roe is higher than ever. We must hold anti-choice politicians accountable at the ballot box in 2020 and beyond.”
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