The Justice Department on Friday released a statement on the Supreme Court’s decision to overturn Roe v Wade.
US Attorney General Merrick Garland vowed to fight every state that made their own laws on abortion.
Garland said the federal government will ‘use every tool at our disposal to protect reproductive freedom.’
WASHINGTON (AP) — Garland: Justice Department to 'use every tool at our disposal to protect reproductive freedom' after high court ruling.
— Zeke Miller (@ZekeJMiller) June 24, 2022
CNN reported:
“The Supreme Court has eliminated an established right that has been an essential component of women’s liberty for half a century – a right that has safeguarded women’s ability to participate fully and equally in society. And in renouncing this fundamental right, which it had repeatedly recognized and reaffirmed, the Court has upended the doctrine of stare decisis, a key pillar of the rule of law,” according to the statement from Garland.
“The Justice Department strongly disagrees with the Court’s decision. This decision deals a devastating blow to reproductive freedom in the United States. It will have an immediate and irreversible impact on the lives of people across the country. And it will be greatly disproportionate in its effect – with the greatest burdens felt by people of color and those of limited financial means,” he said.
Garland reiterated that the decision today does not ban states to keep abortion legal within their borders.“We recognize that traveling to obtain reproductive care may not be feasible in many circumstances. But under bedrock constitutional principles, women who reside in states that have banned access to comprehensive reproductive care must remain free to seek that care in states where it is legal. Moreover, under fundamental First Amendment principles, individuals must remain free to inform and counsel each other about the reproductive care that is available in other states,” he said.
The DOJ “will work tirelessly to protect and advance reproductive freedom” and “strongly supports efforts by Congress to codify Americans’ reproductive rights,” according to his statement.
Abortion laws will now be decided by the states.
“It is time to heed the Constitution and return the issue of abortion to the people’s elected representatives,” Justice Alito wrote.
Many states have ‘trigger bans’ – meaning abortion becomes illegal once Roe v Wade is overturned.
Merrick Garland is now going to use the might of the federal government to harass and threaten states for making their own decisions on abortion.
