PRESS RELEASE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: June 24, 2022
SUPREME COURT ISSUES STAGGERING BLOW TO CONSTITUTIONAL FREEDOMS
Salt Lake City, UT – The Supreme Court of the United States issued an opinion this morning eliminating the constitutional right to an abortion, a decision that will have unfortunate and negative consequences for many Utahns across the state.
In response to the Court’s opinion, Chase Thomas, executive director for Alliance for a Better Utah, issued the following statement:
“While we were warned this was coming, the Supreme Court’s unprecedented elimination of constitutional rights today is still staggering and upsetting. For nearly fifty years, Utahns and Americans have relied on the protections of Roe and Casey to make personal medical choices impacting their own lives and their families. It is alarming that these personal choices have been stripped from individuals and are now placed in the hands of our state’s GOP supermajority, which has not only been hostile toward abortion access but also indifferent toward the needs and rights of women in general.
“Let’s be clear. Abortion has always existed and will continue to exist, despite its legal status nationally or here in Utah. We must work to support and lift up all those who are grieving and impacted by this decision today, especially those impacted most—marginalized individuals in our communities, people of color, and those with lower-incomes.
“This is not the end. The fight for freedom is constantly shifting and evolving, but we cannot surrender. We were set back a few steps—or decades—today, but we’ll continue advocating for a better future, one where every Utahn can safely and freely have access to comprehensive reproductive healthcare.”
Alliance for a Better Utah will be joining with Utahns and allied organizations to rally against and protest this decision this evening at 7:00pm at the Utah State Capitol Building and invite all to join us. We also encourage Utahns to support organizations that have been and will continue to work tirelessly to support reproductive freedom for those in our communities, including Planned Parenthood, the Utah Abortion Fund, and so many others.
###
Alliance for a Better Utah is a nonprofit that holds politicians accountable and advocates for progressive policies that make Utah an even better place. The organization improves the lives of all Utahns through advocacy, transparency, and accountability in Utah politics, policy, and government. More information at www.betterutah.org.