MADISON, WI – State Senator Melissa Ratcliff (D-Cottage Grove) released the following statement in support of the Wisconsin Supreme Court decision to officially overturn the 1849 abortion ban—a law rooted in a pre-Civil War era that had stripped generations of Wisconsin women of their reproductive freedom:
“Today marks a victory for women, for health care, and for basic human rights. The court’s decision to strike down Wisconsin’s archaic 1849 abortion ban was a long, overdue acknowledgment that our laws must reflect the rights and realities of today—not the ideology of 176 years ago.”
The 1849 ban, passed before women had the right to vote, was near total prohibition on abortion and had been dormant until the fall of Roe v. Wade. Its reactivation sowed confusion and fear among patients and health care providers statewide, forcing many to travel out of state for health care or go without services altogether.
Senator Ratcliff is committed to passing legislation that clearly summarizes the right to abortion in Wisconsin law, ensuring protections remain in place regardless of future court challenges or political shifts.
“I applaud this ruling and the tireless efforts of advocates, patients, and providers who fought to see this day come,” stated Senator Ratcliff. “This ruling is a turning point, but it is not the finish line. We must take the next step by ensuring reproductive freedom is added into law and affirming that every Wisconsinite has the right to control their own body and future.”
Senator Ratcliff encourages the legislature to act swiftly to advance legislation that reflects the will of the people and ensures health care decisions remain where they belong—in the hands of patients and their doctors.
