Biden, Jill and Kamala fight for abortion rights — a year after the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade: The White House is planning a series of events with pro-choice activists on the anniversary of the most controversial decision in a generation
- Biden, Jill, Kamala and Doug join abortion rights groups on Friday for a major event ahead of Dobbs’ anniversary on Saturday
- Jill Biden kicks off Thursday with a conversation with women whose health has been affected by Dobb’s decision
- Democrats are using the issue to collect their ballots ahead of the 2024 election
The White House is planning a series of high-profile events to mark the one-year anniversary of the Dobbs decision, when the Supreme Court ruled to hear the groundbreaking abortion case Roe v. Wade to undo.
On Friday, President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris will join several Democratic abortion rights groups for a special event ahead of Saturday’s anniversary.
For the anniversary itself, Harris will travel to North Carolina to deliver a major speech on the issue of abortion rights as she and Biden run for a second term in the White House.
Kicking off is First Lady Jill Bide, who will speak Tuesday with women affected by the Dobbs decision.
President Joe and Jill Biden will host events related to the one-year anniversary of the Dobbs decision
The Supreme Court decision on June 24, 2022 gave individual states the authority to regulate any aspect of abortion not protected by federal law.
In the aftermath, Democrats used the issue to rally their base ahead of the 2022 midterm elections. The party’s ability to retain the Senate and Republicans’ small gains in the House have been blamed on the anger of voters about the Dobbs decision.
Fourteen states currently have bans on abortion at all stages of pregnancy, one when heart activity can be detected around six weeks, and three after 12 to 15 weeks, according to a tally by the Associated Press.
Of the 17 states with the strictest restrictions, 12 have no exceptions in cases of rape or incest. They all have exceptions to save the woman’s life in certain circumstances.
At least six states have bans that have interrupted courts.
Another state, North Carolina, has a ban after 12 weeks of pregnancy that doesn’t take effect until July 1.
The abortion ban also applies to prescribing pills to induce abortions.
The series of events planned around the anniversary shows that Biden and his campaign are using the issue to rally their voters ahead of the presidential election.
On Friday, President Biden, Jill Biden, Vice President Harris and Second Mr. Doug Emhoff will join EMILY’s List, NARAL Pro-Choice America and Planned Parenthood Action Fund in celebration of the one-year anniversary.
Vice President Kamala Harris will deliver a major speech on abortion rights in North Carolina on Saturday
In addition, Democrats on Capitol Hill plan to push through a series of bills that will work to codify abortion rights.
In the Senate, Democratic Senator Patty Murray of Washington will introduce bills that will codify the right to contraception, allow women to travel across state lines to have an abortion, legally protect doctors who perform abortions for patients out of state and will ensure data privacy.
Any bill will almost certainly fail, but Democrats will use the issue to push their message of support for abortion rights. And Republicans will have to voice their objection to stop any piece of legislation.
In the House, Democrats will use a legislative maneuver called a discharge petition to try to force a vote on the Women’s Health Protection Act, which would codify the right to abortion.
Republicans control the lower chamber, which means the move will fail.