Statements on Anniversary of Roe v. Wade Arrow

On the 53rd anniversary of Roe v. Wade, DNC Chair Ken Martin joined Alexis McGill Johnson, President and CEO of Planned Parenthood Action Fund, Mini Timmaraju, President and CEO of Reproductive Freedom for All President, and Jessica Mackler, President of EMILY's List, in releasing the following statements.

DNC Chair Ken Martin:

"Today serves as a solemn reminder that, because of Trump and Republicans, women across America have fewer rights than their mothers and grandmothers did. And beyond this devastating rollback of fundamental freedoms, the overturning of Roe v. Wade has been a disaster for working-class families who cannot access or afford care - with tragic consequences for women who have died of medical complications after being denied life-saving interventions.

"That is why, as Democrats, we will continue our work at the state and federal level to defeat anti-choice legislation, reject ballot initiatives that punish and prosecute women seeking an abortion, and fight back against the Trump administration's attempts to criminalize abortion medication and defund critical health care providers. Democrats are united as we work to defend the essential right to reproductive freedom in America. We will not stop and will not falter in this work until the protections enshrined by Roe v. Wade are once again the law of the land."

Planned Parenthood Action Fund President and CEO Alexis McGill Johnson:

"When the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade nearly four years ago, we knew that this was only the beginning of the chaos and harm that would be unleashed. Since then, 20 states have banned abortion, and President Trump and Congressional Republicans' "defunded" Planned Parenthood in a targeted attack on access to sexual and reproductive health care - even in states where abortion remains legal. We've heard the stories of those who have risked everything: The women who were denied lifesaving care, the families forever broken, the providers threatened with criminalization. The present state cannot be the future state. This anniversary of Roe is a reminder of all that we have lost, and all we will fight like hell to win back."

Reproductive Freedom for All President and CEO Mini Timmaraju:

"On the anniversary of Roe v. Wade, and in the wake of new reporting on the preventable death of Ciji Graham, we are reminded of the life-or-death consequences of abortion bans. Anti-abortion politicians have been clear that their ultimate goal is to ban abortion nationwide. They were never going to stop at overturning Roe, and now they are advancing their unpopular agenda through Congress, the courts, federal agencies, and Republican-controlled statehouses. Last November, voters across the country rejected anti-abortion extremism, and this November, we'll do it again. Reproductive Freedom for All is mobilizing our 4 million members nationwide because our rights and freedoms are on the line - and when abortion is on the ballot, we win."

EMILY's List President Jessica Mackler:

"Nearly four years after Roe v. Wade was overturned, Republicans' extreme abortion bans are inflicting real and lasting harm on people across the country. Their reckless restrictions threaten patients' health and undermine basic freedoms. As Republicans sow chaos, Democratic women are on the front lines - blocking efforts to criminalize patients and strip away access to care. Republicans have learned one hard lesson since eliminating Roe: attacking abortion rights is politically dangerous. In 2026, voters will hold them accountable by electing Democrats who will fight for our rights and defend reproductive freedom."