PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — The governor, first lady, leaders of Planned Parenthood and other Democratic public officials gathered on Independence Mall to address what would happen if women’s access to safe, legal abortions were to be revoked.
The rally came a day after a leaked United States Supreme Court draft opinion pointed to the potential dismantling of the landmark Roe v. Wade decision that guaranteed that right.
“This ruling is not just about preserving life, it's about exerting control,” said Gov. Tom Wolf.
He said overturning Roe and restricting abortion access would have an immediate impact on everyone’s lives and liberties — far beyond access to abortion.
“If the Supreme Court goes through with this ruling to overturn Roe v. Wade, it will put the right of every American to make their own private medical decisions in jeopardy,” he said.
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“And I don't think it's possible to overemphasize the seismic shift this represents in America's approach to privacy, to personal autonomy and to health care rights.”
Pennsylvania Congresswoman Madeleine Dean warned: If Roe is overturned, what could come next?
“Gay marriage? Brown vs. Board? Loving vs. Virginia? Griswold?” she said, referring to decisions that included desegregation of public schools, dismantling of bans on interracial marriage, and forbidding government interference in the purchase of contrtaceptives.
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”Make no mistake, everything will be on the line with this extremist Supreme Court. They've already started chipping away very effectively at our voting rights.”
State representative Joanna McClinton said, “We put people on the Supreme Court that they interpret the law. We didn’t send anybody to the Supreme Court to make new laws.“
Meanwhile, Dayle Steinberg with Planned Parenthood of Southeastern Pennsylvania said, if the Supreme Court decision stands as it is written, 36 states are likely to ban abortions outright (including 13 states with trigger laws that would immediately go into effect).
“That means 36 million women and people who can become pregnant could soon lose power over their own bodies and their own lives,” Steinberg said.
Wolf promised that “abortion access in Pennsylvania will remain legal and safe as long as” he is governor.
In fact, on Nov. 8., Pennsylvanians will elect a new governor. The primary election, to determine the Republican challenger to presumed Democratic candidate Josh Shapiro, is on May 17.