Summary

King County Councilmember Sarah Perry issued a statement Friday in response to the Supreme Court’s ruling striking down Roe v. Wade.

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King County Councilmember Sarah Perry issued the following statement Friday in response to the Supreme Court’s ruling striking down Roe v. Wade: 

“This marks a dark day in American history. That the courts could decide to disallow women the full sovereignty of their bodies is unconscionable. And worse yet, the women and girls who are most impacted by this decision are those without access to support, those who are struggling with financial need, women and girls of color, those from marginalized communities and those with mental health and substance use disorders who aren’t able to effectively self-advocate. These women and girls are most at risk and the horrendously unjust message this ruling sends is that we are willing to turn our backs on those who most need us to support their basic human rights at this time. 

“Revoking a fundamental right of this magnitude is unprecedented and it is an attack on women and girls everywhere and their right to freedom and privacy. And in a concurring opinion from the court, we see that this may only be the beginning. So, I ask you, when the right to sovereignty over your own body is taken away from over 50% of the residents in this country, who’s next? 

“We have accepted Roe as the law of the land for nearly 50 years. Women and girls have grown up with the certain knowledge that they would be safe in making decisions about their own bodies and their own privacy. I will not accept the turning back of this unalienable right for over 50% of the residents of this country and I will fight to maintain that right in King County and across our region and beyond.”