Indiana officials share opinions on Roe V. Wade's overturning

Jun. 24—The Supreme Court of the United States (SCOTUS) overturned the 49-year landmark decision on abortion, Roe v. Wade.

"It's a wonderful day for life in this country," Boone County Right to Life President Susan Gentry said minutes after the decision was announced. "We've had almost 50 years of this extremist position in terms of the federal government stepping in on states' rights. It's great to think that states are going to be able to make their own decisions relative of this issue."

BCRTL will be hosting a rally at the Boone County Courthouse at 5 p.m. today in celebration of the decision.

"The ACLU of Indiana will do everything in our power to block any ban in the courts, but we aren't waiting to take additional action," ACLU Executive Director Jane Henegar said in a press release. "Now is the time to let Indiana elected officials know that we will not stand by as they take away women's rights. We are mobilizing people and urging Hoosiers to hold politicians accountable."

While abortion is still legal today in Indiana, some elected officials signaled their intent to pass an abortion ban once Roe v. Wade was overturned.

After the decision was announced, multiple Indiana politicians released statements on the announcement.

Indiana Sen. Mike Braun said, "After 50 years, the right to life has finally been returned to the people and their elected representatives. I'm excited to see the states take the lead to protect the unborn, and I look forward to crafting solutions that will defend the unborn and save lives."

Indiana Attorney General Todd Rokita also hailed the SCOTUS decision as a victory.

"The Supreme Court has delivered a historic win for life, but our fight for unborn children continues in earnest," he said in a prepared statement. "With its action today, the U.S. Supreme Court at long last has acknowledged the gross injustice perpetrated by the court in 1973 through the tragic Roe v. Wade decision that legalized abortion throughout the nation. More than 63 million little ones have died at the hands of abortionists in the intervening 49 years since that act of judicial malpractice. Even as we mourn those lost lives, however, today we also rejoice that six justices on the current Supreme Court have acted wisely and courageously to correct one of the worst travesties in our nation's history."

The Indiana Democratic Party issued the following statement by Vice-Chair Myla: "My heart breaks today, because with the U.S. Supreme Court's opinion, a 50-year understanding and American-standard has been stripped away from women of all stripes, colors, and backgrounds. Generations of women for the first time will be forced to make dangerous decisions many of us thought we left in history books."

Indiana Republican Party Chairman Kyle Hupfer released a statement that read, "Today is a victory for life.This historic ruling is a long, overdue correction to the egregiously decided Roe v. Wade decision and has rightfully returned the question of life back to the states where it belongs. Hoosiers firmly believe — as stated in the U.S. Constitution — that life is foundational to liberty.

"The Indiana Republican Party has been unwavering in its defense of life from conception to natural death. I look forward to the special session that Governor Holcomb has called so we can implement our longstanding values on life."