Statement From Priorities USA Executive Director Danielle Butterfield Responding to the Leaked Supreme Court Opinion Overturning the Constitutional Right to Abortion

May 03, 2022

A leak of a Supreme Court draft opinion to Politico indicates that the court intends to reverse the Roe (1973) and Casey (1992) decisions which guaranteed the constitutional right to an abortion. In response, Priorities USA Executive Director Danielle Butterfield issued the following statement: 

“I am angry that the Supreme Court has reached this point. A woman’s right to reproductive freedom is integral to her ability to control every aspect of her own life. This decision reflects a historic failure of our country’s highest legal officers to protect the citizens that they have sworn to serve. Abortion is still a constitutional right, but we must prepare for more aggressive efforts to criminalize those who seek and provide abortion care and strengthen our support for those who will protect fundamental reproductive freedoms.

“Priorities USA will continue our tireless efforts and use every resource at our disposal to engage with voters and ensure that they know what is at stake in November. Many voters are exhausted after living through Donald Trump’s presidency that was defined by extremism and bigotry. It is imperative that we re-engage these voters and clearly communicate that opposition to basic civil rights is a feature, not a bug, of the entire Republican Party.

“We cannot wait until the fall to hold Republicans accountable for their radical, anti-choice views. American women, particularly those with the least resources, are already suffering because of these draconian restrictions. This decision will be particularly devastating for Black women who already face a maternal health crisis and disproportionately lack access to reproductive health care.

“Democrats have consistently stood up for the right to choose. Now is the time to strengthen our resolve and continue to fight for Democratic candidates who can stand against this awful decision. My heart is with the people who will be most affected by this disastrous ruling. We will continue to fight for a better future for all of us.”