Clay Democrats ‘condemns’ Supreme Court’s ruling

(On June 24) the Supreme Court of the United States overturned Roe v. Wade, the nearly 50-year law that protected the constitutional rights of women who sought to terminate an unwanted pregnancy. The political ruling, based on personal religious views of Supreme Court Justices (which have no place in the laws of this country), throws the fate of these female victims into the hands of state legislators, overwhelming male – and in Republican states, women are now at risk of losing the right to abortion entirely. The Clay County Democratic Party strongly condemns this decision which will undoubtedly trigger further restrictions on a state level.

The ruling harshly affects Florida women; effective July 1, abortion laws will change, banning abortion after 15 weeks without allowing for tragic sexual abuse situations including rape and incest. This law was considered unconstitutional when passed. Republican lawmakers have already threatened to impose further restrictions now that Roe v. Wade has been overturned.

“With this decision, women have lost control over their own reproductive health,” said Jackie Cetnar, Clay County Democratic Executive Committee Chair. “Women have been made victims of men again and again throughout history and have always sought and obtained abortions. Under Roe vs Wade, abortions have been safe, medical procedures for almost 50 years. Now not only are women victims of rape and incest but they are forced under the law to carry their unwanted babies for nine months and risking their own health in the process. Women desperately seeking abortions will now be at risk for unlicensed practitioners performing abortion in unsafe conditions, resulting in infections and even death, as their grandmothers were 50 years ago. This is an abomination; there are no words to describe my sorrow.”

Women voters will have their say at the ballot box in November. Jackie Cetnar said that she urges women to seek out Democratic candidates who support a woman’s right to choose and to vote out anyone who tries to restrict women’s freedom to make decisions about their own bodies, lives and futures.