MEMPHIS — Planned Parenthood of Tennessee and North Mississippi CEO Ashley Coffield released the following statement on the leaked draft opinion by the Supreme Court that would overturn Roe v. Wade:
“First and foremost, abortion is legal today in Tennessee, and our doors remain open,” Coffield said. “We will continue to provide abortion care up to the very minute when we can no longer do so legally.
“We know the harm that will come from this decision, and we know that it will most impact Black, Latino, and other people of color who already disproportionately feel the effects of abortion bans and restrictions, a product of this country’s legacy of racism and discrimination.
“Eliminating the right to an abortion will have serious, life and death consequences for our patients, and we will fight like hell to defend their lives.
“We at Planned Parenthood have been preparing for this outcome since well before 2019, when Tennessee’s General Assembly passed a trigger ban to take effect 30 days after Roe is overturned. Plans have been underway to hire and train patient navigators who will help people access safe and legal abortion outside Tennessee and Mississippi.”
“While our politicians are divided on this issue, a clear majority of Americans believe the government should stay out of private medical decisions, and many in our region will be shocked and outraged by this decision if it stands.
“I encourage everyone to join our advocates for rallies today in major cities across the region, and sign up for updates through plannedparenthoodadvocates.org. We are most likely facing the end of safe and legal abortion in the United States, and the time to make your voice heard is now.”
