The Supreme courts decision

Washington, DC - LCLAA is highly disappointed and dismayed to learn about the Supreme Court decision, ending almost 50 years of federal constitutional protections of abortion rights. With the overturn of Roe v. Wade, access to abortion will likely be banned or severely restricted in most states. 

The loss of this right is part of the broader continued attack on women of color and other marginalized groups. LCLAA has worked diligently to promote inclusion and diversity in the workforce through efforts like our Latina Equal Pay and Trabajadoras campaigns and our involvement with the Paycheck Fairness Act Coalition. Our work has taught us that access to reproductive health services, including birth control and bodily autonomy, lead to higher education attainment and economic security. 

Women denied control of their bodies are more likely to have an income below the federal poverty level, more likely to receive public assistance, and less likely to be working full time. Women’s economic options are further limited by the lack of affordable childcare and paid family leave policies nationwide. This is an economic issue; any restriction of this right will fall disproportionately on women of color and will prevent them from achieving their full potential. 

LCLAA is concerned that this decision will allow and justify a massive rollback on fundamental rights that we have all collectively fought for. In the initial draft, Supreme Court Justice Alito supported the majority opinion stating that “until the latter part of the 20th century, there was no support in American law for the constitutional right to obtain an abortion.” This language endangers us. If the Court sees progress as lacking precedence, it threatens the rights of the LGBT+ community and communities of color who have only gained many of their rights and liberties during the Civil Rights Movement. Who is to say that the right to abortion will be the only right that we lose? 

The action of the Court today only shows us the repercussions of privilege, making a decision to strip the rights of communities that many of them have never been part of. We must remain vigilant, ready to mobilize the instant our labor rights and civil rights are jeopardized. LCLAA’s dedication to the labor movement is unwavering. We will not let the work of our movement, the progress that has taken communities decades to build, be undone so easily.