South Dakota’s Challenge

To Roe v. Wade

To the Editor:

On February 22, South Dakota legislature passed a law banning virtually all abortions, even in cases of rape or incest. Women are permitted, under the ban, to have abortions only when their lives are jeopardized by their pregnancy.

The authors of the law intended for it to be challenged, and it’s expected to be the first case regarding the legalization of abortion heard by the Supreme Court since the appointment of Chief Justice John Roberts and Justice Samuel Alito.

The South Dakota government has not made family planning centers and contraceptive services readily available in the past. South Dakota has only has one abortion clinic, and only 28 percent of the state’s women in need of contraceptive services are provided with them. By attacking the rights of women and families to make private, personal decisions about whether and when to have children, South Dakota’s lawmakers have made it clear that they do not have the best interests of women at heart. If politicians in South Dakota truly cared about the well-being of women and reducing the number of abortions, they would work with Planned Parenthood to increase access to contraception and medically accurate sex education.

This ban challenges Roe v. Wade and directly violates the fundamental right to privacy. Planned Parenthood will fight this ban in court. Personal health care decisions should be made by women and families — not by politicians. This issue is about more than just the women of South Dakota. If the case is brought to the Supreme Court, Roe v. Wade, the landmark 1973 Supreme Court decision that legalized abortion nationwide, could be overturned and the right to abortion repealed. Those interested in fighting this unconstitutional ban should visit www.saveroe.com

Alexandra Hart

24 Fawnwood Road, Sandy Hook                                   March 1, 2006