The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Georgians respond to the court’s ruling
Some say it’s time to mobilize and strategize to protect rights. Others applaud ‘a remarkable answer to the prayers of millions.’
For some, it was an answer to their prayers.
For others it was heartbreaking news.
The U.S. Supreme Court’s ruling upheld Mississippi’s ban on all abortions after 15 weeks, overturning the landmark 1973 Roe v. Wade decision.
The ruling in Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization had been expected since May when a draft opinion was leaked in an unprecedented incident.
Polls show most Americans say abortion should be legal in all or most cases, but many are open to restrictions, according to the Pew Research Center.
Cindy Purcell, who leads the PACE (Post-abortion Care and Education) Ministry at Perimeter Church in Johns Creek applauded the court’s decision.
Purcell had an abortion when she was “barely 16.” The father was much older and drove her across state lines to have an abortion. She said the experience affected her emotionally because she felt damaged and her self-esteem was destroyed.
Today, the mother of two adult children helps other women who have had abortions work through their grief, their pain and to find forgiveness.
Kenyette Tisha Barnes, co-founder of #Muterkelly, national director of Mothering Justice and the mother of three said the ruling left her heartbroken.
“I believe that abortion is within the continuum of reproductive health care. I also believe that abortions will continue despite the Supreme Court’s ruling,” Barnes told The Atlanta Journal-constitution. “Prior to Roe, unsafe and illegal abortions occurred, and women died. I want to be clear about that. Women died.”
Barnes also feels that the ruling will have a greater impact for Black women.
“When abortion access is eroded, Black women suffer the most. What we’re going to see is an unequal distribution of services,” Barnes explained. “There’s so much that this decision causes, and the ripple effect is astronomical.”
Bernice King, CEO of the King Center, tweeted that the Supreme Court’s ruling “lacks wisdom. We can find a pathway that both respects life and choice. It may not be easy, but if we have the will, we can find the way.”
Aparna Bhattacharyya, executive director of Raksha, a Georgia-based nonprofit that works in the South Asian community, said people need to “breathe, strategize and mobilize because this is not the first time when our rights have been challenged, especially in Georgia. We need to remember that we have more power and resources than we have had in the past, to fight this.”
Still, Bhattacharyya said “this is very scary for all of us. We fear many of our rights are being chipped away.”
She’s particularly worried about immigrant survivors of domestic violence, sexual assault and human trafficking. Raksha works with South Asian and other immigrant survivors of these types of abuse.
“Many survivors might have language barriers, no medical insurance or fewer resources to travel. There is more of a travel risk for survivors who might not have immigration status based on being trafficked or abused.” The ruling, she said, “could be another barrier to many survivors leaving an abusive relationship or for girls who are survivors of incest and sexual assault.”
Linda Goler Blount was not surprised by the decision itself, but the news still shocked her. She views it as an intentional political choice to devalue women, strip them of their right to decide and deny them of full control of their bodies. She is worried for younger generations.
“I’m really concerned about what could be the devastating mental health effects of getting this message over and over again that you are not worthy,” she expressed.
Others, though, were solidly behind the ruling and are making plans to help mothers and children.
Some organizations, individuals and churches have been preparing for this day for a long time, said Karen Labarr, president of Choose Life of Georgia.
She said she had hoped for this ruling, but it also means work ahead.
“There will be increased demand for the services and assistance both before and after birth,” she said. “So organizations and individuals and churches that are already in that space have been planning for a while to be ready for expansion.”
The Rev. Jentezen Franklin, senior pastor of Free Chapel, a megachurch with several locations including Gainesville and Midtown Atlanta, called it “a remarkable answer to the prayers of millions of people for decades.”
In a statement, the megachurch pastor said he had “honestly never dreamed in my lifetime I would see this happen. We do not gloat or dare say anything but praise to our God for this courageous and just decision by The Supreme Court. Now we must support, love and demonstrate God’s grace and goodness to would-be mothers and the precious children this decision has rescued.”