New York legislators call on other states to expand abortion rights

Mississippi elected officials are looking to the case of Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization to ban abortion in the state after 15 weeks, as well as overturn Roe v. Wade. And the move has prompted strong pushback from New York elected officials, who spoke out against the attacks on reproductive rights during a press conference outside Planned Parenthood’s clinic on Manhattan’s Lower East Side Monday.

“Reproductive rights are no longer being chipped away at; they are being bulldozed straight into the ground,” said Rep. Carolyn Maloney at the conference. “Women aren’t full citizens – and there is no democracy – if we can’t control our own bodies. The time for action – for a bold platform to fight back against this conservative assault on reproductive rights – is now. We must fight for reproductive justice by protecting and expanding access to abortion, birth control and all forms of reproductive health care.”

Maloney, who voted to pass the Women’s Health Protection Act that would establish abortion rights across the country, was alongside several other reproductive justice advocates calling for a halt to Mississippi’s efforts. Among them, state Senator Alessandra Biaggi said New York has the responsibility to “step up in this moment and be a national leader in expanding abortion access.”

“Reproductive justice is more than securing the right to abortion – it is about breaking down systemic roadblocks to accessing that right, by creating laws that remove social & economic barriers to all kinds of reproductive care,” said Biaggi. “For this reason, I sponsor legislation to create the New York Abortion Access Fund which aims to support New Yorkers and individuals traveling from other states who face financial and logistical barriers to abortion and reproductive health care. I am proud to stand today with my colleagues in government to make clear New York state will always protect the right to an abortion.” 

While New York passed the Reproductive Health Act in 2019, which expanded abortion rights, other states are still facing major threats to the right to an abortion. Alongside the case going on in Mississippi, there is ongoing litigation concerning Texas’ six-week abortion ban. 

“Sexual and reproductive health care is essential health care” Jacquelyn Marrero, spokesperson for Planned Parenthood of Greater New York told City & State. “When New York passed the Reproductive Health Act in 2019, we cemented our position as an abortion access state. However, the pandemic compounded with political attacks on abortion across the country demonstrates the urgent need to further protect and advance access to sexual and reproductive health care for New Yorkers and people in states like Texas, where abortion restrictions are putting lives at risk.” 

New York legislators are calling on other leaders in other states to follow New York’s lead in expanding abortion access. The same elected officials continue supporting legislation that will remove barriers to abortion. Although other states continue to see attacks on abortion rights, New York legislators say they hope New York will set the example for progress on reproductive rights and will continue to push for other states to follow.