We MUST keep fighting for reproductive freedom

The Supreme Court has struck down Roe, but we are not giving up ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ {NAME}, Today is a dark day in our nation’s history. As a woman, a mother, and a legislator, I cannot think of a greater violation of bodily autonomy than politicians or judges restricting individuals’ private reproductive health care decisions. This decision is cruel, dehumanizing, and dangerous. It does not reflect the will of the majority of Americans who deeply value maintaining control of their bodies, their lives, and their futures. This Court has now lost its legitimacy. With McConnell’s partisan manipulations, Trump installed 3/6 justices that voted to gut reproductive rights today. They said they believed in precedent. They lied. Deciding whether and when to have a child is a deeply personal choice that should always be in the hands of people who are pregnant, not politicians. We all know and love someone who has had an abortion – a friend, a neighbor, a colleague, a family member. We owe it to our community to fight for these essential rights – not only for a world where abortion care is legal and safe, but also destigmatized and accessible to all. I want to reassure Vermonters that they will retain their legal right to abortion care, as protected by state law. But that’s not the case for many others. At least 26 states are poised to immediately ban or greatly restrict access to abortion care. Abortion access is already deeply inequitable – and overturning Roe will put this essential health care out of reach for millions. This decision will disproportionately impact BIPOC, people with low incomes, people with disabilities, and other folks who already face discriminatory barriers to care. In Vermont, we must pass Proposal 5, the Reproductive Liberty Amendment, explicitly protecting reproductive freedom in our state’s constitution. At the federal level, we must codify Roe into law with the Women’s Health Protection Act and abolish the Senate filibuster used previously to block it. A procedural rule is not more important than our dignity and freedom. The future of our democracy is frightening. I am outraged, but I am determined. With the Court’s willingness to overturn this precedent, I fear for the future of other essential rights – gay marriage, access to contraception, interracial marriage. We cannot watch from the sidelines. Ultimately the people will decide the contours of our rights and freedoms, and I will fight in Congress to ensure the voice of the people is heard. Thank you, Becca Balint --------------------------------------------------------------- [Facebook Link]( [Twitter Link]( [Instagram Link]( Becca believes the best thoughts are not always from the loudest voices in the room. As President Pro Tem of the Vermont State Senate, she's led the charge to invest in affordable housing, fight climate change, enshrine reproductive freedom into our state's constitution, and so much more. Now, she's running for Congress to have a greater impact on more Vermonters. If you'd like to receive fewer emails and only see our most important updates, [click here.]( [DONATE]( If you'd rather not stay up to date with Becca's work, you can [unsubscribe](. If you prefer to contribute by check, you are welcome to send a contribution to the campaign at the address below. To comply with Federal law, we must use our best efforts to obtain, maintain and submit the name, mailing address, occupation and name of employer of individuals whose contributions exceed $200 per election cycle. Thank you in advance for including that information along with your check. Becca Balint for Vermont, P.O. Box 291, Burlington, VT, 05402 `