On Wednesday March 4, we will be traveling to Washington, DC to rally on the steps of the U.S. Supreme Court as the Justices listen to arguments in June Medical v. Russo.
In this case, formerly called June Medical v. Gee, the U.S. Supreme Court Justices will assess the constitutionality of a Louisiana “admitting privileges” abortion restriction. The last major abortion rights case, Whole Woman’s Health v. Hellerstedt in 2016, examined an almost identical abortion restriction out of Texas and found it unconstitutional. The only thing that has changed is the composition of the court.
WLP attorneys filed an amicus (“friend of the court”) brief filed in this important case. In it, we argue that the Louisiana law in question is a medically unnecessary abortion restriction designed to manufacture an opportunity for anti-abortion street protesters to advance their agenda through fear and intimidation.
We recently shared our perspective in an op-ed for the Philadelphia Inquirer:
The playbook goes like this: First, pass an admitting privileges law. That’s simple enough, given lobbyists typically write the bills. Once the law is passed, all politicians have to do is wait for antiabortion extremists to threaten hospitals with “negative publicity” and harassment if they grant privileges to abortion providers.
We watched this strategy play out in Texas. After admitting privileges passed, antiabortion extremists published a step-by-step guide outlining how to find out where abortion providers applied for privileges and then threaten that hospital with disruptive protests until they give in to their demands. (From the guide: “Graphic images are highly controversial but this could be an appropriate location to hold graphic images if the hospital refuses to take action.”)
We will be at the rally hosted by the Center for Reproductive Rights on the steps of the Supreme Court from 8AM – 11:30AM. You can also attend. RSVP and spread the word about the rally here. You can follow our live coverage on our Facebook and twitter pages, and follow the hashtag #MyRightMyDecision.
The Women’s Law Project is the only public interest law center in Pennsylvania devoted to advancing the rights of women and girls.
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