Today, the Supreme Court will hear arguments on Mississippi’s ban on abortion after 15 weeks of pregnancy — a direct challenge to Roe v. Wade and threat to reproductive freedom across the country. Planned Parenthood Votes South Atlantic Executive Director Alison Kiser, NARAL Pro-Choice NC Advocacy and Organizing Manager Lynne Walter, and North Carolina Democratic Party Chair Bobbie Richardson released the following statement in response:

“Today’s arguments mark the most significant threat to Roe v. Wade in decades and confirm once again what we already know — Republicans will stop at nothing to undermine people’s rights to make fundamental decisions about their bodies, families, and futures. If the Supreme Court upholds the Mississippi abortion ban, they will open the floodgates for more bans across the U.S., putting people’s health at risk and setting our country back. The right to decide if or when to have a child is essential to a person’s ability to make highly personal decisions about their bodies and their futures, and we cannot and will not sit back while our rights are on the line. In 2022, we will stand up against these dangerous attacks and fight to elect candidates who will ensure the fundamental right to equitable access to abortion and reproductive health care for everyone.”

Learn more about North Carolina Republican Senate candidates’ anti-choice record:

• In the U.S. House, Ted Budd has supported completely defunding Planned Parenthood, supported legislation that would impose a nationwide ban on abortion at 20 weeks of pregnancy, and supports legislation that could outlaw abortion and common forms of birth control. 
• As Governor, Pat McCrory flip flopped on his campaign promise to not sign any legislation that further restricted abortion access. In 2013, he signed legislation into law that eliminated abortion coverage for public employees and others with insurance through the Affordable Care Act and placed restrictions on abortion clinics. In 2015, he signed legilsation that tripled the waiting period before an abortion from 24 to 72 hours. 
• In the U.S. House, Mark Walker voted to dismantle the Affordable Care Act and restrict private insurance coverage of abortion care, sponsored legislation that threatened to ban abortion, and voted to impose a nationwide 20-week abortion ban — getting in the way of a live-saving health care decision.