PR: We Must Reimagine Roe to Truly Protect Access for All

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – January 22, 2021   

The Womxn Project is committed to creating real and lasting change to truly protect Roe and reimagine what it looks like to protect our health, rights and dignity!

(Providence, RI) – Statement by Jocelyn Foye, The Womxn Project on the anniversary of Roe v. Wade: 

“Today we mark the 48th anniversary of Roe v. Wade, the Supreme Court case that affirmed the right to abortion, but what is clear is that right is under attack.  For many people pushed to the margins – women of color, low-income people, young people, and immigrant women – the right has been pushed out of reach.  

We worked hard to pass the Reproductive Privacy Act and make sure that no matter what happens at the federal level that here in Rhode Island the right would be protected in our state. This is a critical step, but it does not ensure everyone who needs an abortion can actually get one. We believe in more! 

• We are proud to continue to work with Representative Liana Cassar, Senator Bridget Valverde and a strong set of partners to advance the “Equity in Abortion Coverage Act”, our state bill to eliminate the bans on health coverage for abortion and to advocate for the federal EACH Woman Act. 
• We are grateful to Senators Reed and Whitehouse and Rep. David Cicilline for standing with us in support of the Women’s Health Protection Act, which ensures lawmakers do not push medically unnecessary restrictions just to make it harder to provide or seek an abortion. 
• We need to pass our state bill and push for EACH Woman and WHPA, but the fact is that still won’t get rid of policies like the one we have here in Rhode Island that create extra barriers for young people. Some people don’t have parents they can rely on. We should make sure anyone who is not ready to be a parent can get an abortion.  We need to get this unnecessary and harmful barriers off the books! 
• There are many other important steps we can take to make sure that whether someone chooses adoption, seeks abortion or wants to become a parent or add to their family that they can make the decision that makes sense for them and get timely, quality care. This includes addressing the FDA policy requiring people get abortion pills at a doctor’s office. People should not be put at additional risk in the midst of a pandemic! 

The ability to seek a health care service should not be predicated on where your benefits come from, how much money you make or where you live.  It should not be limited by how old you are.  It is way past time that we take action to make sure that when a person needs to end a pregnancy, they will have access to safe, affordable medical care. 

Let us reimagine what it truly looks like to honor Roe and make sure that we are able to create true abortion access for all!” 

Right now, for too many people the law skews towards keeping people pregnant against their will. By denying health coverage for abortion for people who use Medicaid or putting up extra barriers for young people, the government has way to much control over a person’s body and their future. We should be able to make our own decisions and get the care we need without barriers.” – Jocelyn Foye, Executive Director, The Womxn Project