OMAHA, Neb. – Last night, a draft U.S. Supreme Court decision to overturn Roe v. Wade was leaked. The language throughout this document is harmful, shameful and shocking, and yet it changes nothing about abortion access as we know it in Nebraska. Regardless of the ultimate Supreme Court decision, expected in June, any further restrictions on abortion access in Nebraska would require affirmative actions by the Nebraska Legislature.
This past legislative session, ACLU of Nebraska, I Be Black Girl, Planned Parenthood Advocates of Nebraska and the Women’s Fund of Omaha worked to successfully stop three bills seeking to restrict abortion access, including a proposed total abortion ban. However this decision ultimately comes down this summer, we will not stop fighting to protect Nebraskans’ fundamental rights to make decisions about their own bodies.
To be clear, a majority of Nebraskans do not want more restrictions on abortion access. This March, the ACLU of Nebraska released a poll showing that Nebraska voters opposed abortion bans by a double digit margin (55% - 40%) and that state senators could face political consequences for supporting anti-abortion bills. In the same poll, most respondents said the U.S. Supreme Court should not overturn Roe v Wade (55 - 34%).
We believe that everyone should be able to make the personal health care decisions that are best for themselves, their health, and their futures. Collectively, we will continue to reject further medically unnecessary restrictions to abortion care whenever anti-abortion politicians try to insert their personal beliefs in to our health care.
Advocates in support of reproductive justice and access to abortion care will gather in Omaha, Nebraska in front of City Hall, 1819 Farnam Street, at 5:00 PM CST, and in Lincoln, Nebraska on the steps of the Capitol building, 1445 K Street, at 5:00 PM CST.
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