Released on January 21, 2021

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today is the 48th anniversary of the Supreme Court’s decision in Roe v. Wade that recognized the Constitutional protection of an individual’s right to abortion care.  It’s up to us to ensure that today isn’t the last time we mark this occasion—before a new conservative majority on the Supreme Court strikes it down.   

In recent years, state legislatures have passed laws that impose medically unnecessary restrictions on abortion access—laws that are purposely designed to violate the standard set in Roe in order to reach the Supreme Court and serve as a vehicle for overturning the decision.   

Sixteen states have already passed laws that would immediately ban all abortions if Roe v. Wade was overturned. But states including New York, Massachusetts, Illinois, Rhode Island, and Vermont have passed laws that enshrine the right to an abortion in state law, effectively codifying Roe v. Wade. NOW calls on other states to follow this example, as we renew our commitment to defending Roe at the federal level.  

NOW looks forward to working with the Biden-Harris administration to reverse any of these unconstitutional attacks on Roe. These are attacks on women’s autonomy, designed to take away their power and control over their own decisions and health. Abortion care is reproductive healthcare, and healthcare is a fundamental human right. This isn’t about politics – it’s about our lives.

Contact: Press Team, press@now.org,