Defending Reproductive Rights
With its Dobbs v. Jackson decision, the US Supreme Court overturned the precedent-setting Roe v. Wade (1973) decision that legalized abortion in the United States. The Dobbs decision is antagonistic to the freedom and privacy of Americans. It denies women power over their bodies. With Roe overturned, many states, and perhaps even Pennsylvania, will seek to criminalize abortion, undermining both women’s autonomy and privacy. Republican state lawmakers already have this goal in view.
We live in a country that is supposed to accord people the right to believe what they will and conduct their lives as they see fit. Scores of recent polls establish that the majority of Americans would prefer abortion remain legal. The five Justices that make up the “conservative” majority seek to foist traditionalist views of gender, reproduction, and morality on an unwilling nation. We object to this tyranny and we must take action to defend our rights and future.
Help Us Defend Reproductive Rights
Vote for our candidates in 2022, volunteer with the Manheim Township Democrats, and Donate to the Manheim Township Democrats.
The Federal Roadmap to Defending Reproductive Rights
The Supreme Court decided as it did because of who sits on the bench. During his miserable Presidency, Trump had the lucky opportunity to appoint no less than three judges (Gorsuch, Kavanaugh, Coney Barrett) to form a conservative majority of five. We must tip the balance of the US Supreme Court back toward more open-minded judges so the court can reverse this terrible decision. We can do this by voting for a Democratic President in 2024 and voting for John Fetterman to represent us in the US Senate in 2022.
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The State Roadmap to Defending Reproductive Rights
Dobbs does not outlaw abortion so much as it removes it from federal protection. It will be up to states such as Pennsylvania to decide whether or not women retain control over their bodies. For this reason, it is imperative that we invest in state-level contests, especially the 2022 contest between Democratic candidate for Governor, Josh Shapiro, and his extreme, anti-abortion opponent. More locally, we have a chance to re-elect Democrat Mike Sturla in 2022 over his anti-abortion opponent to represent us in Pennsylvania’s 96th State House District. If we do not support Mike and Josh, we may find that Pennsylvania quickly becomes a state hostile to freedom and reproductive rights.
Support State-Level Candidates in 2022 Who Will Stand Up for Reproductive Rights
Josh Shapiro for Governor
“Throughout his career, Josh has never wavered in defense of reproductive rights and a woman’s right to choose. From taking on the Trump Administration in federal court to protecting access to contraception and winning an injunction against the “gag rule” … Josh has always stood up for and defended the right to choose.”
Mike Sturla for PA House (96th District)
“My position on this issue has been clear, consistent, and unambiguous. I will continue supporting and fighting for a woman's right to choose, as I always have. I will fight to ensure access to safe and legal abortion in Pennsylvania. And I will fight like hell for those rights as your State Representative.”