I’ve been reeling from last night’s unprecedented leak of the draft of a Supreme Court majority opinion in Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization — which would overturn Roe v. Wade and Planned Parenthood of Southern PA v. Casey — the two major court decisions that guarantee Americans the Constitutional right to abortion.
This 98 page opinion is shocking in its cruelty and it does not mince words. It would reverse Roe v. Wade and the Casey Supreme Court abortion decisions and it would permit even Congress to ban abortion nationwide and have no exceptions even for rape incest or the health of the pregnant person. While the majority opinion is not yet final and could still change, we must ACT NOW as though it is a final decision. There is not a moment to waste.
Common Ills women’s lives are on the line.
Please take immediate action. The House has already passed the Women’s Health Protection Act (WHPA) which codifies Roe v. Wade and makes abortion legal nationwide. It cannot be a Constitutional right but it can keep abortion legal nationwide. Call your Senators to demand immediate action to pass the WHPA in the Senate! And if necessary, to break a filibuster to keep abortion legal.
Finally, I want you to do one more thing: ask the Senate and the House to pass a resolution that the Equal Rights Amendment has been ratified. We need the ERA more than ever, as it would prevent discrimination on the basis of sex once and for all in the United States Constitution.
The ERA will ensure that equality of rights under the law shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or by any State on account of sex. And the Women’s Health Protection Act will codify Roe v. Wade into law.
We are the only industrialized nation with a written Constitution that does not address the denial of rights for more than half of our population.
It has been nearly 100 years since this fight began to enshrine, into the Constitution, that equality of rights cannot be denied or abridged on account of sex.
Please take immediate action now.
For equality,
Ellie Smeal
Feminist Majority Foundation
Feminist Majority
1600 Wilson Blvd
Arlington, VA 22209
United States
