Roe v. Wade ruling stirs fear for CT abortion-rights advocates
HARTFORD — Throughout national discussions about abortion, Connecticut leaders have repeatedly reassured their pro-choice constituents that the state is a safe harbor for abortions.
The U.S. Supreme Court announced Friday that Roe v. Wade would be overturned and the feeling of safety that many abortions-rights advocates have long felt in Connecticut is slipping away.
“I don't think anyone is safe,” said Sherry Ferguson, a longtime Connecticut resident. “How can we say that any state is guaranteed?”
Ferguson was among about 40 people who gathered on the steps of the state Capitol Friday afternoon following the Supreme Court's announcement. They heard from local and state Democrats who expressed pride to live in Connecticut, but some of the same doubts about the future.
The high court ruling gives states the power to support or ban abortions. Reproduction rights were written into Connecticut law about 30 years ago, and during this past legislative session, the laws were expanded to protect women seeking abortions from other states — and the medical personnel who treat them — from civil and criminal liability from outside Connecticut.
However, U.S. Sen. Richard Blumenthal, D-Conn., cautioned that a future motion from Republicans in the U.S. Senate could mean a federal law banning abortions.
“If that happens, forget about Connecticut and its safe harbor,” Blumenthal said at the Hartford rally, which was organized by Connecticut Democrats. “Federal law trumps state law. Federal law overrides Connecticut safe harbor.”
Lt. Gov. Susan Bysiewicz called the Supreme Court's ruling “cruel and unconscionable.”
“Gov. (Ned) Lamont and I want you to know that Connecticut is and will remain a safe harbor,” Bysiewicz said. “But as we know, our rights are fragile and must be protected every time. And so, we say today that we are the team that can be trusted to protect the rights of women in Connecticut, because this difference couldn't be more clear between our team and the other team.”
Bysiewicz pointed out that Lamont's rival Bob Stefanowski hasn't publicly said he would stand up against attacks on Roe v. Wade.
On Twitter, Stefanowski wrote, “Today's Supreme Court ruling has absolutely no impact on Connecticut residents. I will continue to support Connecticut's state law, which has codified a woman's right to choose, with an appropriate ban on late-term abortion.”
Across the country in states that do not have abortion rights legislation, the limit to safe medical abortions could be absolute. The Washington Post reported that 13 states will soon ban abortions.
“There are young girls in this country who were raped by their uncles and their fathers who are forced to carry those pregnancies that resulted from those rapes to term because of this Supreme Court decision,” said state Sen. Mae Flexer, D-Killingly.
Besides voting, Flexer pushed residents to consider the privilege they had to live in a state that allows abortion and asked them to donate to people who might need to travel to Connecticut to get an abortion.
“If you are a person who has that money, take that money today and donate it to the incredible organizations that are galvanized right now, to make sure those scenarios I was talking about earlier, don't have to happen.”
Many speakers and attendees of the rally said they discussed with their families the impact the decision will have on the future of the country.
“They should freak out,” Ferguson said of her grandchildren and nieces. “They should never miss an opportunity to vote because I don't really know what other power we have.”