"Five to four is too slim a margin for women's rights. Women's freedom hinges on one justice -- that's cause for alarm, not celebration," said National Organization for Women (NOW) President Patricia Ireland in response to the Supreme Court's ruling in Stenberg v. Carhart that struck down an anti-abortion law. "Today's decisions on abortion provide only temporary protection of women's reproductive freedom -- a right that has been seriously eroded by the conservative high court," Ireland said.
In Stenberg v. Carhart, the Court by 5 to 4 struck down Nebraska's abortion procedures ban. At issue were the remaining distinctions between pre- and post-viability standards and the requirement of an exception in post-viability bans to preserve the woman's health. The justices ruled that the law created "an undue burden upon a woman's right to make an abortion decision.''
In its 6 to 3 decision in Hill v. Colorado, the Court ruled constitutional a Colorado law which restricts aggressive, threateningly close approaches by demonstrators near the entrance of health care facilities. Prior to enactment of the statute, protesters blockaded clinics, physically assaulted women trying to enter the clinics, and subjected patients to intimidating behavior by surrounding, crowding, grabbing, pushing, shoving, hitting, and spitting on those seeking access to clinics.
"These decisions are only a reprieve. The real fate of legal abortion will be in the hands of the next president, who will appoint as many as three justices to the narrowly divided high court," Ireland said.
Ireland warned that the upcoming elections ultimately will determine the outcome of the abortion debate. Cautioning that abortion rights also are threatened in state legislatures and in Congress, Ireland calls on abortion rights supporters to get out and work for feminist candidates.
"Let these narrow decisions serve as a wake-up call to women who are toying with the idea of voting for anti-abortion presidential candidate George W. Bush in November. A vote for Bush is a vote against safe, legal abortion," Ireland said.
###