AFSCME’s Saunders assails repeal of Roe v. Wade: ‘Reproductive justice is economic justice’
WASHINGTON — AFSCME President Lee Saunders released the following statement in response to the United States Supreme Court’s decision in Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization:
“The Supreme Court’s decision overturns a precedent that has stood for nearly half a century, stripping away a foundational freedom that has allowed generations to enjoy dignity and economic security. The court’s opinion is also undemocratic, in brazen defiance of the views and values of a clear majority of people across the country.
“Reproductive rights are workers’ rights. Reproductive justice is economic justice. The decision about when and whether to bear children is fundamental to the ability to pursue self-sustaining work. That’s why AFSCME has worked to protect reproductive rights and access to family planning services of all kinds. And we have opposed any policies, legislation, regulation or constitutional amendment to restrict these core freedoms.
“Reproductive rights are an issue of life and death. The court’s ruling is an attack on individual humanity, autonomy and personal liberty. It will mean chaos and desperation in the lives of so many people. And the burden will fall most heavily on communities of color, low-income families, immigrant populations, people who are already marginalized. There will also be a chilling effect throughout the health care industry, affecting how providers can care for their patients.
“The court said today that the most deeply personal choices about your bodies, your health care and your future are not yours to make. We trust people to make the right decisions for themselves and their families – guided by their own moral and religious beliefs and not the political views of six judges.
“More than half of the states are poised to enact or implement cruel, draconian laws undermining the privacy rights and personal freedoms of millions of people. Working with coalition partners, AFSCME will do everything in our power to neutralize the impact of this decision, including working to elect candidates this year who will make it a top priority to protect reproductive rights.”