The Supreme Court announced Friday the national decision to overrule the long-recognizedRoe v. Wade, tightening laws around women's health care and reproductive rights. This means abortions will become illegal in many U.S. states.
Central Illinoisans are expressing mixed feelings about the decision. Some are saying this is a step back on protecting women’s equality.
Christina Norton is a member of Peoria chapter of the Democratic Socialists of America. She said women will have less autonomy over their bodies and their lives because of the Supreme Court's decision to overturn Roe. v. Wade.
“Our initial reaction is anger and frustration, but not surprise because this is going to have a huge negative impact on a huge group of people, and this has been the goal of the right wings for a long time, so we’ve kind of seen it coming, but that doesn’t mean we’re less angry about it,” Norton said.
Norton said she is afraid of what this means for women everywhere.
“On the national scale, there are going to be negative health impacts for people who need abortions for medical reasons, negative economic outcomes for people who can’t support a child, negative social outcomes for people who might be abusive relationships where their abusive partners aren’t going to react well to them being pregnant, might use it to control them more,” Norton said.
While many states will ban abortions within their borders, Illinois will likely be one of the few to protect women’s reproductive rights and the decision to have an abortion. This will put intense pressure on Illinois and similar states as outside visitors seek reproductive healthcare.
“In Illinois, we’re lucky enough that it’s officially protected here, and we have it available, but we are now going to have to provide increased support for people from other states in parts of the country that are going to try to come here to get the abortion care that they need," Norton said. "Our infrastructure is going to struggle under the weight of that increased need.”
Springfield resident John Hamilton said this was the worst thing that could have happened for women.
Hamilton said women deserve the choice over what happens to their bodies, and Friday’s decision will wreak havoc on many lives.
“It will affect mostly poor women. They won’t be able to travel to have the abortion that they need. They will find other ways to have an abortion, and they’ll hurt themselves or someone else will hurt them. We’re unwilling to support children anyway, so I think it’s just going to be terrible."John Hamilton
“It will affect mostly poor women. They won’t be able to travel to have the abortion that they need. They will find other ways to have an abortion, and they’ll hurt themselves or someone else will hurt them. We’re unwilling to support children anyway, so I think it’s just going to be terrible,” Hamilton said.
Hamilton said he hopes Congress will take steps towards protecting abortions in all 50 states following the Supreme Court's decision.
“I think it’s just part of the conservatism of the court that is going to really harm people,” Hamilton said.
While some people are torn on whether abortions should be outlawed or not, they agree the court’s decision was a difficult pill to swallow.
Dan Meyer is a Eureka resident who said he was not surprised about the decision because of the leaked documents in May revealing the possibility of overruling Roe v. Wade.
“I just think the leak was the part that led to what’s happening today. It was inevitable that that was going to be the finding, whether you agree with it or not. I have no opinion on whether abortion’s illegal or not. I mean, I do, but it’s not necessarily a big deal for me,” Meyer said.
Meyer said it is not so much about him, but the rights of his wife, daughter and granddaughter, that he consciously thinks about.
“Previously working in OB, I’ve just seen so many moms just regret their decision of having an abortion and how that long term affect. In the moment, you feel like it’s a good decision because you might have a lack of support or whatever that might be, but in the long run, in two to three years, what does that look like for that mother? There’s depression and anxiety that they suffer."Andrea Kempf
Other people are saying banning abortion is a good thing.
Andrea Kempf is a Eureka resident who said the long-term effects of abortions can be traumatic for mothers.
“Previously working in OB, I’ve just seen so many moms just regret their decision of having an abortion and how that long term affect. In the moment, you feel like it’s a good decision because you might have a lack of support or whatever that might be, but in the long run, in two to three years, what does that look like for that mother? There’s depression and anxiety that they suffer,” Kempf said.
Kempf continued, “You think it’s ending in that moment, but it just continues. It’s going to be there for the rest of your life. Like, you’re always going to be reminded of that.”
Kempf said younger generations need to be educated differently on the consequences of abortions, and she said it is important for other women to know abortion is not the only option even in horrific situations resulting in unwanted pregnancies.
“There’s women’s centers. There’s obviously adoption agencies. We’re about 20 weeks pregnant now, and we struggled to conceive and so there’s parents out there that can’t even conceive and that would be willing to take that child. Obviously, there’s Christian families out there too that would be praying for that situation,” Kempf said. “Obviously, those things happen and it’s sad that those things happen, but it’s the reality of it. There’s places and people to help you when those circumstances come up.”
Kempf said she and her husband are both so happy about the decision to lift federal abortion protections that they will be hosting a party to celebrate.
“We’re just excited. Bryant [my husband] actually has a tattoo that he started when he turned 18, but it’s the first date that the Roe v. Wade started, and then now we get to finish that, so we’re super excited,” Kempf said.
Christina Norton from the Peoria chapter of Democratic Socialists of America said if people want to see change, it is up to them to vote and seek out ways to become more involved in their communities.
“If they don’t want our country and our society to go down this road, then they can come together with other people and make it happen. They can go to their school boards and their PTAs and make sure that sex education, including accurate information about abortion, is provided to our children,” Norton said. “That their communities provide whatever support they can for people who need abortions and for people who need healthcare while they’re pregnant or childcare after they have their child.”
Norton said for people who are confused about abortion, she encourages them to seek out information about women’s reproductive healthcare.
“It’s a big, complicated topic, and it’s completely understandable to have big, complicated, confusing feelings about it. There’s a lot of good, fact-based medical information out there about it that they could use to learn more and talk to people they trust about how to feel about it. Other people’s healthcare isn’t a threat to them if they’re concerned about that,” Norton said.
The Peoria DSA is planning a protest at 1 p.m. Saturday outside the Peoria County Courthouse.
