Atlanta

Pro-life activists celebrate Roe v. Wade draft ruling while pro-choice supporters vow to fight

ATLANTA — The debate over Roe v. Wade has animated American politics for half a century.

A draft version of a Supreme Court ruling was leaked to Politico that deals with a Mississippi abortion law. Chief Justice John Roberts confirmed its authenticity in a statement he released on Tuesday.

Channel 2′s Michele Newell spoke to pro-life activists on Tuesday, celebrating what they hope will eventually become the law of the land.

“It was exciting to hear truly that to see that we could live in a post Roe world. That we could live in a land where Roe v. Wade is overturned,” activist Rachel Guy said. “Of course, it was concerning and disheartening to hear that this news was leaked because that’s not something that’s ever been done.”

Pro-life activists we spoke with said they are in communication with advocates across the state discussing the leaked Supreme Court decision draft that could overrule Roe v. Wade and what it could mean for Georgia.

“Let’s say Dobbs is in favor in June, the wonderful news is that our heartbeat legislation will then go into effect here in Georgia,” Rachel Guy said.

“We pray that this is truly upheld. I know this was a leak, but we pray that the Justices are not intimidated and that they stay the course,” activist Suzanne Guy said.

In the meantime, a representative from the Catholic Archdiocese of Atlanta told Newell that the plan is to wait until the actual ruling before releasing a statement.

Channel 2′s Audrey Washington spent Tuesday speaking with abortion rights activists, who said they are disappointed by the draft opinion, but reiterated that it is just a draft and that as of right now, nothing is set in stone.

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“I think we’re all concerned,” said Lauren Frazier with Planned Parenthood Southeast.

Frazier said she heard about the draft majority opinion late Monday night.

“This is the most critical moment for abortion rights that we’ve seen in nearly five decades,” Frazier said.

In the draft, the Supreme Court voted to strike down the Roe v. Wade decision. That decision guaranteed federal Constitutional protections of abortion rights.

“For us here in Georgia specifically, we will most likely see Gov. Kemp’s six-weeks ban that he passed be enacted here and we already know that most people at six weeks of pregnancy don’t know they’re pregnant,” Frazier said.

Kwajelyn Jackson is the executive director of the feminist Women’s Health Center in Atlanta.

“Abortion care is legal and accessible today and the law has not changed,” Jackson said.

She said she wants people to take the opinion seriously because she believes it will have an impact on the care that women will be able to receive in the future.

“In order for us to be sustainable for the long term we need full, unfettered access to abortion for the people who need it.”

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