Statement from NCBW: Roe vs. Wade
Press Release
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
For Further Information Contact: Alfreda Stukes
nationalexecutiveadmin@nc100bw.org
Primary: 404-390-3982
Statement from the National Coalition of 100 Black Women, Inc.
Roe vs. Wade
ATLANTA, GA, May 3, 2022 – The National Coalition of 100 Black Women, Inc., (NCBW) is a 40-year-old advocacy organization comprised of activist women in 62 chapters in 26 states and the District of Columbia. We actively work to make a reality “that one day Black Women and Girls will live in a world where socio-economic inequity does not exist.”
NCBW Members are angry by the draft decision leaked to the press, expecting that the Supreme court will reverse and turnover Roe vs. Wade. However, we are by no means surprised. There has been a long effort (years) to dismantle the socio-economic advances and achievements of the BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, and people of color) population in the United States.
This decision will impact the very essence of choice in this country. Something that, as women, we have only begun to understand fully; the power of choice and to take advantage of in our everyday lives. Rights to vote, education, own property, credit, etc. The test cases across the country surrounding Roe. Vs. Wade are instances to see if the conservative machine could dismantle the system of choice at the state level, even though 70% of the population today considers Roe vs. Wade a settled law.
In this country, it comes down to who has access, power, privilege, and resources. We have a court that is supposed to be, by its very nature, “A” political. However, the conservatives have been working to stack this court. We have witnessed politicians who “have held their noses” as Donald Trump stacked the courts across this land. The conservatives wish to “Make America Great Again,”; which is a code for those who control wealth and power. Further, we do not doubt that our civil rights to education and equal pay are also on the chopping block.
NCBW adamantly stands by the landmark decision that legalized abortion in this country almost 50-years ago. We believe women should have the right to make a decision without excessive government restrictions. It’s important that abortion access remains legal and safe in all states. Any decision to overturn Roe vs. Wade will be an assault on a woman’s right to choose.
This is not a decision lawmakers and judges should be making. The right to choose should apply to every person in the United States. If this draft opinion becomes final, it will have an astonishing and profound effect on women’s healthcare for years to come.
What makes this latest news even more worrisome, is that it comes on the heels of Governors and state legislators across the country who have been attempting to dismantle this right over the past months. Such a ruling would have tremendous consequences, so we must continue our fight and do all we can to make sure Roe vs. Wade remains the law of the land.
We must make our voices heard, be it local, state, or national, and recognize our power and use it. Let us use this as a watershed moment and understand that our rights are, in fact, under attack, and the tools to bring about change in this country are by exercising your right to vote and using the power of the “Purse.”
Sincerely,
Elizabeth A. Jones, National President
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The National Coalition of 100 Black Women, Incorporated is a 40-year-old advocacy organization whose vision is that black women and girls will live in a world where socio-economic inequity does not exist. Thus, we advocate on behalf of black women and girls to promote leadership development and gender equity in the areas of health, education, and economic empowerment. As a voice for millions of black women and girls in the United States, the Coalition believes in inclusion, respect, racial and social justice, integrity, accountability, and collaboration. For more information, visit the National Coalition of 100 Black Women Inc. at www.ncbw.org.
