INDIANAPOLIS—This week, a draft opinion that would overturn Roe v. Wade was leaked from the United States Supreme Court. State Senator Jean Breaux (D-Indianapolis) released the following statement in response:

“I find this leaked draft from Justice Alito extremely disturbing. One of the things we value above all else in this nation is our freedom to be able to have choices and make our own choices. Overturning Roe v. Wade is a violation of those freedoms and undermines nearly 50 years of precedent.” 

“Banning abortion in some states will not magically end abortion. It will mean that those with the means to travel to other states will have access to abortion and those without means will only have access to unsafe abortions, which will have a disproportionately negative impact on communities of color. It’s important to note that the abortion rate today is lower than it was when Roe v. Wade was first decided and was 20% lower in 2017 than in 2011. Rather than limiting a woman’s right to choose, we should focus on further expanding access to contraction, reducing our maternal and infant mortality rates and improving access to affordable childcare. That’s how to successfully lower abortion rates and those are the policies that I will be fighting for.”