We are all aware of the leaked Supreme Court draft that would reverse Roe v. Wade and–for the first time in the history of the United States–legally take away a basic human right: the right for women to make decisions about their own bodies. Words fail to express the outrage and frustration. Fifty years on and the battle continues.
The moment that this decision is officially issued in June or July of this year, between 13 to 26 states will immediately reduce or completely revoke the right to abort, many making no exceptions in any circumstances.
The Senate just voted on the Women’s Health Protection Act (WHPA) , which would have codified abortion protection. As expected, the WHPA lost in a vote of 49 to 51. Every single Republican member of Congress, including those who claim to be in favor of the right for a woman to choose, voted No, along with one Democratic Senator, Joe Manchin of West Virginia.
For abortion rights to be protected in the United States of America, WHPA must pass. For this to happen under the existing filibuster rules, 60 of 100 Senators would have to vote Yes. Democrats must win in all possible races and not only keep the majority in the midterm elections, but improve their numbers. Perhaps a remote possibility, but what are the other choices? Especially in light of Senate minority leader McConnell’s remarks in a recent interview, in which he suggested that if Republicans retake the Senate majority, they may pursue a law banning abortion nationwide.
I urge you to join the Spain Women’s Caucus and help get the word out and get active! We need volunteers to brainstorm ideas, to contact our representatives, to come together and ‘hacer piña’, and to turn out the vote for equal rights in 2022 and 2024!
I hope to hear from you soon!
In solidarity,
Doris