Washington, DC – Today, on June 27, 2016, the United States Supreme Court voted 5-3 in Whole Women’s Health v Hellerstedt, effectively striking down a restrictive Texas law that would have placed unnecessary regulations on women seeking abortion services. The Asian Pacific American Labor Alliance, AFL-CIO (APALA) commends the decision to protect women’s access to healthcare and calls this a significant victory for women’s rights.
“Today, we celebrate a huge win for women everywhere. What this means for all women – including women of color, low-income women, and immigrant women – is monumental: to make our own health decisions with dignity and respect,” stated APALA National President Johanna Hester.
The Texas bill HB2 threatened to close all but 10 abortion clinics throughout the state, which makes access to care nearly impossible. Texas houses the third largest Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) population in the country. With today’s positive ruling, AAPI women of reproductive age will have better access to abortion and healthcare services. The decision also paves the way for additional clinics to open in Texas and sets a strong legal precedent to protect women’s access to abortion services beyond Texas.
“The fight for guaranteed access to safe, affordable health care doesn’t end here. We need to strengthen our efforts to put a stop to similar state restrictions that make it difficult for women to exercise their rights,” Hester added. “APALA stand firms to reject any sort of legislation that criminalizes the choices and bodies of women of color and continues to advocate for broader reproductive, health and economic justice for all women.”
“Today, we celebrate a huge win for women everywhere. What this means for all women – including women of color, low-income women, and immigrant women – is monumental: to make our own health decisions with dignity and respect,” stated APALA National President Johanna Hester.
The Texas bill HB2 threatened to close all but 10 abortion clinics throughout the state, which makes access to care nearly impossible. Texas houses the third largest Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) population in the country. With today’s positive ruling, AAPI women of reproductive age will have better access to abortion and healthcare services. The decision also paves the way for additional clinics to open in Texas and sets a strong legal precedent to protect women’s access to abortion services beyond Texas.
“The fight for guaranteed access to safe, affordable health care doesn’t end here. We need to strengthen our efforts to put a stop to similar state restrictions that make it difficult for women to exercise their rights,” Hester added. “APALA stand firms to reject any sort of legislation that criminalizes the choices and bodies of women of color and continues to advocate for broader reproductive, health and economic justice for all women.”
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| Press Release for Printing.pdf |
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