Wisconsin – Planned Parenthood Advocates of Wisconsin is applauding Governor Evers’ call for a special session to repeal Wisconsin’s 172-year-old criminal abortion law in anticipation of the Supreme Court’s decision to overturn Roe. If Roe is overturned, Wisconsin’s law could go immediately into effect banning abortion at any stage of pregnancy without exception for rape, incest or the health of the woman. A study published last year in the journal Demography demonstrates some of the dire threats abortion bans pose to women’s health, concluding that banning abortion would lead to a 21% increase in the number of pregnancy-related deaths for all women. Members of the Wisconsin Legislature can repeal this dangerous and outdated Wisconsin law to protect women’s health, lives and futures.
Statement from Tanya Atkinson, president of Planned Parenthood Advocates of Wisconsin
“Now that we know the Supreme Court intends to repeal Roe there is no time to waste. I applaud Governor Evers for calling the Legislature into Special Session on June 6 to repeal Wisconsin’s 172-year-old abortion ban. Criminalizing abortion in Wisconsin, threatening women’s lives and doctors with prison time for providing essential abortion care is not the future we want for ourselves, friends, families or communities.
“It is hard for me to imagine how anyone entrusted with elected office could turn their backs on women like Christine who needed access to safe abortion care (click here for her story). Doctors will be put into the impossible position of waiting for their patient’s to get sick enough to provide needed medical care – forcing them to go against their oath to do no harm or face years in prison. Every pregnancy and situation is different. Everyone should have the freedom and power to control their own bodies and lives.
“It is unthinkable that we would allow elected leaders from nearly 200 years ago to determine the freedoms and future of people in Wisconsin today. We call on our elected leaders today to repeal Wisconsin’s criminal abortion ban that could prevent people from accessing critical health care.
“It’s time to listen to the people of Wisconsin and to act to protect our freedoms, our health, our lives and our futures.”
