MADISON, WI — In a landmark decision today, the Wisconsin Supreme Court struck down the state’s archaic 1849 abortion ban, a law written before women had the right to vote, which criminalized nearly all abortions. Following the U.S. Supreme Court’s reversal of Roe v. Wade, anti-abortion extremists tried to resurrect the ban, stripping Wisconsinites of critical healthcare options and putting lives at risk.
Representative Tara Johnson (D-Town of Shelby) released the following statement:
“The Court’s decision is a critical victory for personal freedom and reproductive rights in Wisconsin. The 1849 abortion ban belonged in the dustbin of history — and that’s exactly where it’s going. Healthcare decisions should be made by individuals and their doctors, not politicians.”
Johnson vowed to continue fighting to protect reproductive freedom in Wisconsin. In April, she joined her colleagues to introduce the Abortion Rights Restoration Act. In addition to repealing the 1849 ban, the Act establishes a statutory right to an abortion, removes medically unnecessary, cruel requirements on women seeking reproductive care, and expands access statewide.
“We celebrate this victory today, but the fight isn’t over,” added Johnson. “No one should ever again face the uncertainty, fear, and injustice caused by extremist attempts to control our bodies and our futures.”
