ATLANTA – State Representative Kim Schofield (D-Atlanta) today issued the following statement regarding the leaked draft opinion from the U.S. Supreme Court:
“I am very angry after seeing the draft opinion from the U.S. Supreme Court that could overturn the court’s decision to protect access to safe abortions. While this is a draft and votes can change and abortion is not illegal yet, the decision to overturn abortion rights seems inevitable. Overturning Roe v. Wade will allow states to decide whether or not to protect access to abortions.
“Access to abortion has always been under attack in Georgia. It is scary to admit, but Georgia Republicans will move to outlaw abortions and will make unprecedented attacks on all reproductive rights. This past session alone, several pieces of legislation that would have limited abortion access were introduced. Some Republican officials have even discussed calling a special session to end any abortion access in Georgia.
“Outlawing abortions will not stop abortions. It just limits the access to safe abortions. Just like any other bad policy, this would affect Black women, specifically poor Black women, the most. Black women have been known to be a target of criminalization. If abortion is outlawed, Black women will be targeted left and right at alarmingly high rates for miscarriages and stillbirths. Women will also try to perform abortions at home, which could lead to lawmakers passing legislation to investigate miscarriages.
“As such, we need to take action and speak up. Now more than ever it is important for citizens to participate in our great democracy. I also want to urge the U.S. Senate to pass the Women’s Health Protection Act of 2021, which would codify access to safe, legal abortions in this country.
“Our fight to protect a woman’s right to safe abortions will continue. The fight will be at our doorstep in the next year, and we’re going to need all the help we can get.”
Representative Kim Schofield represents the citizens of District 60, which includes portions of Clayton and Fulton counties. She was elected to the House of Representatives in 2017 and currently serves on the Health & Human Services, Interstate Cooperation, Information and Audits and Small Business Development committees.
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