Late Monday night, while much of social media glittered with images and funny critiques of gilded celebrity fashion at the Met Gala 2022, Politico dropped an exclusive story featuring a leaked draft opinion authored by the U.S. Supreme Court Justice Samuel Alito showing the majority-Republican court’s plans to overturn Roe v. Wade. That’s the landmark court decision that legalized abortion in the United States in 1973.
On Tuesday morning, a SCOTUS press release confirmed that the draft opinion published by Politico is authentic, and that the court will conduct an investigation into the leak. According to Politico’s report, Republican-appointed justices Clarence Thomas, Neil Gorsuch, Brett Kavanaugh and Amy Coney Barrett voted in support of Alito. The Republicans currently hold six out of nine total seats on the bench.
“We hold that Roe and Casey must be overruled,” Alito wrote in the draft opinion.
Just to be clear, the draft opinion is not law. At this time, abortions are still legal in the U.S. However, Alito’s draft opinion sets the tone for a forthcoming decision from the Supreme Court. According to Politico, votes can change between now and when the decision from the court is released, which is expected to come in late June.
On Monday night, Gov J.B. Pritzker and Mayor Lori Lightfoot reiterated the state and city’s pro-choice stances.
In a statement released on Tuesday, Pritzker said, “The terrifying implications of this decision and what it means for millions of women across the country cannot be understated. But let me be clear — no matter what atrocity of an opinion the Supreme Court officially rolls out this summer in regards to Roe versus Wade — abortion will always be safe and legal here in Illinois.”
Lightfoot released her statement Monday night after the Politico news drop. “Chicago will continue to be a haven for those seeking access to the full range of safe reproductive care. We will also continue to fight in Chicago to protect the right to choose and will not stop fighting to protect this right in our surrounding counties and states,” she wrote.
Pro-choice organizers in Chicago and nationwide need support now and in the coming months to push back against the Supreme Court’s attempt to overturn Roe V. Wade. Here’s what you can do to be an ally.
DONATE
Since 1985, the Chicago Abortion Fund has been dedicated to advancing reproductive autonomy and justice for everyone by providing financial, logistical, and emotional support to people seeking abortion services. The organization is looking to raise $250,000 for its 2022 Fund-A-Thon. You can donate to the organization by visiting https://www.chicagoabortionfund.org. You also can contact them at 312-663-0336
HIT THE STREETS
The Women’s March, a national-based organization formed in January 2017, is hosting rallies at courthouses and federal buildings nationwide for abortion rights. The rallies will take place on Tuesday, May 3 at 5:00 p.m. local time. We’ll share more information about the Chicago locations once they are available.
The Chicago branch of the Party for Socialism and Liberation is hosting a march and rally for abortion rights on Saturday, May 7 at 1:00 p.m. at the Federal Plaza, located at 230 S. Dearborn Street.
Rise Up 4 Abortion Rights will host a national week of action from Sunday, May 8 through Saturday, May 14. Click here for more details about demonstrations you can support or join starting Sunday.
