As the Midwest increasingly becomes a sea of anti-abortion states ahead of a Supreme Court decision that should repeal Rowe Wade, Illinois promises to be one of the safest havens in the region for reproductive rights.
Democratic Governor JB Pritzker, who is currently running for re -election, has reaffirmed his commitment to the right to abortion after a leaked Supreme Court decision that could overturn decades of abortion rights by a majority of judges. .
At least 26 states are confident or could quickly ban abortion if the Supreme Court issues a decision as a draft conclusion. According to the Gutmacher Institute, Reproductive Rights Research Group. Most of these states are located in the South and Midwest-and Illinois is surrounded by abortion-free abortion-making it arguably the only place in the region where people can safely abort without having to go. on the beach if the Supreme Court withdraws. federal protections. .
If other states enforce a total abortion ban, the percentage of women whose closest abortion providers are in Illinois would increase by 8.651 percent, according to Gutmacher. Abortion seekers are likely to travel from Michigan, Indiana, Wisconsin, Ohio, Missouri, Louisiana, Kentucky, Tennessee, Mississippi, Arkansas, Iowa, and Alabama.
“I want to promise you that I will fight hard not only for women who call themselves Illinois, but also for people from across the country whose rights are at stake.” Pritzker said at a rally in support of the right to abortion Friday in Chicago. “Now, like you, I’m proud that Illinois is an island of reproductive freedom in the Midwest, but our shores remain open to anyone left empty -handed by these extremist politicians.”
Pritzker signed a law in 2019 that would actually code Rowe Wade if a federal decision was overturned. The Reproductive Health Act establishes a “basic” right to abortion in Illinois and requires health insurance companies to cover the procedure. It also prevents a pregnant woman’s partner from legally interfering with her abortion and protects doctors from criminal penalties or allowing their licenses if they have an abortion.
In Illinois, approximately 46,000 people had an abortion in 2020. According to the State Department of Health. Nearly 10,000 of these patients traveled from other states, a strong indication that Illinois already serves as a safe haven for neighboring Western states with limited abortions.
In December, the governor signed a law repealing the requirement that doctors notify parents or guardians without seeking consent before performing an abortion from the age of 17. This cancellation is expected to take effect on th -1 of June.
Chicago Department of Health pledged $ 500,000 Monday Help residents and people in neighboring states have better access to abortion as Illinois clinics and abortion providers prepare for the massive influx of patients from neighboring states of abortion. Illinois abortion funds are also adding support to help with the expected increase in demand. Second Block Club Chicago.
The state’s efforts to protect abortion rights could be thwarted, however, if it has sufficient support from lawmakers under the Republican governor. The two most prominent Republican candidates for governor of Illinois have expressed their views against abortion, at least one of them. Access restriction campaign In the state.
Since Democrats in Congress are unlikely to successfully ratify Rowe Wade, the struggle for reproductive rights will fall more heavily into state -level careers. Conservative leaders have already passed violent laws in many states, most recently in Oklahoma, where Republicans have banned abortion for about six weeks without rape or incest, while private citizens have sued those who facilitated the procedures.
“The candidate for the office of governor should ask all candidates where they stand for the protection of reproductive rights. Pritzker wrote on Twitter. “Will you be like Oklahoma or will you be like Illinois?”
Source: Huffpost
