The Supreme Court announced today that it has overturned Roe v. Wade, ending a nearly 50-year ruling that made abortion a constitutional right in the U.S.
Missouri is one of many states with a so-called “trigger law” that was set to completely ban abortion statewide once Roe v. Wade was overturned. The Missouri law bans abortion in nearly all cases, including rape and incest. The only exception is if a pregnancy could seriously harm the pregnant person.
Congresswoman Cori Bush was at the Planned Parenthood in St. Louis when the news broke. She told KMOX that though she knew the overturn of the law was possible, it was still hard to believe.
“I am still in shock, disbelief, that this actually happened. I know that we’ve been believing it could happen for several years now,” she said. “But for today for it to actually happen — for our Supreme Court to make the decision that they are bigger than the people, when the numbers show that the majority of Americans did not want to see Roe v. Wade overturned — for them to make this decision that affects other folks' bodies, I’m more than outraged.”
Bush said she plans to continue organizing and making sure people know what resources are available to them.
“Our reproductive health centers are still open, they're not closing doors,” she said. “We have to also make sure if people cannot get services here in Missouri…are you able to go to Illinois? and if you can't travel because of the Missouri laws, then is there another way that we can help?”
Other legislators from the state, like State Rep. Mary Elizabeth Coleman, have been working to tighten access to abortion even further. Coleman introduced bills in the last session that would criminalize people who helped others get abortions, and would criminalize people for leaving the state for an abortion.
Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker sent out a statement shortly after the ruling. Illinois legislators have been gearing up for the overturning of the law for a while, saying that they would make sure Illinois would be able to provide abortions not only to Illinois residents, but also to people from nearby states where abortion is banned.
“In Illinois, we trust women. Despite the action of the Supreme Court today overturning Roe v. Wade, the right to safe, accessible reproductive health care is in full force in Illinois – and will remain so,” his statement read. “In Illinois, we’ve planned for this terrible day, an enormous step backward and a shattering loss of rights.”
St. Louis Mayor Tishaura Jones expressed a similar sentiment in a statement.
"Today’s unjust ruling from a far-right Supreme Court doesn’t change the fact that seven in ten Missourians support the right to an abortion. It does not change the fact that in states like ours, we’ve already been living a post-Roe reality, with thousands traveling out of state for abortions,” she said. “As devastating as this moment is for families across the country, St. Louisans are ready to take action to protect our rights until Congress steps in to do what it should have done decades ago: codify Roe into law.”
St. Louis County Executive Sam Page said in a statement that he'd work with area abortion providers "to ensure County employees and residents have access