The Supreme Court of the United States (SCOTUS) released their opinion in June Medical Services, LLC v. Russo this morning. The June Medical Services consolidated cases challenged dangerous TRAP laws (targeted restrictions on abortion providers), and looked to reaffirm who can sue as the wronged party as it relates to accessing abortion care. The Supreme Court decided what we already know to be true – admitting privileges requirements for abortion providers are unconstitutional and an undue burden for women seeking abortion care in this country. Further, the Court upheld its own decades old precdent of allowing abortion providers to sue on behalf of their patients because of they are well situated to advocate on behalf of their patients’ interests.
“This decision brings hope for us doing this work. We are looking forward to continuing and expanding support that is still necessary.” said Erica Davis Crump, Reproductive Justice Content Associate & Organizer with ProgressNow New Mexico. “While the needs individuals face regarding this vital aspect of health care are deeper and wider than these rulings, we celebrate this decision today. This indicates we can actualize the hope for safe and legal abortion access for all. The current work being done by local organizations for reproductive rights is intrinsically attached to an intersection of movements that are also facing similar legal violence, such as the movement of racial justice for Black lives. We know the next steps and actions must be unified in inclusion, protection, and provision beyond the mere procedure. But above all, we must continue to work to eradicate the stigmatizing shame that’s embedded in these types of court cases that only work to obliterate the trust that should be intuitively given to the patient seeking the basic right to safe and legal abortion care and support.”
“Indigenous Women Rising is a reproductive justice and reproductive health collective,” said Nicole Martin, Co-Founder, Sex Educator, and Organizer with Indigenous Women Rising. “We are guided by our values from the communities we come from and in return, serve. We launched our abortion fund three years ago because it was, and is, a healthcare service we realize our communities need. This ruling from the Supreme Court Of The United States is another example of why our work is still so desperately needed right now. Abortion care is essential, time-sensitive health care, and when someone decides to seek abortion services it should be affordable, accessible, and compassionate care. We know that Federal trust and responsibilities can be conveniently forgotten, therefore Indigeous Women Rising is committed to ensuring access to affordable, safe, non discriminatory, and culturally respectful healthcare. By any means necessary.”
While we celebrate the decision from the Supreme Court Of The United States, there are still hundreds of anti-abortion laws coming out of other states constantly. Laws meant to restrict abortion access are felt the hardest by women and pregnant people who already struggle to get the healthcare they need, including Black communities, Indigenous communities, young people, low income families and other communities of color.
In New Mexico we respect that everyone is more than capable of making their own moral decisions within the framework of their own conscience, belief systems, and life circumstances. Abortion remains safe and legal in New Mexico, because we know that the decision to have an abortion must remain with women, pregnant people, and their medical providers, without government interference. While other states and the federal government create barriers to abortion access, New Mexico will continue to be a place where we will not close our doors or our hearts. The Respect NM Women Coalition will continue to work across New Mexico to ensure that abortion remains safe and legal in our state, and to remove the old and outdated abortion ban off the books.
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Respect NM Women: We are New Mexico women, families, and allied organizations determined to keep personal decisions about abortion and reproductive healthcare where they belong—between a woman and her medical provider. We are mothers, fathers, aunties, abuelas, and young people, all united in respect for a woman and pregnant people’s right to make private medical decisions about abortion without interference.
