Supreme Court decision sparks protest calls in Appleton, reaction from local leaders
APPLETON - The U.S. Supreme Court's decision overturning Roe v. Wade and eliminating a constitutional right to abortion Friday sparked local reaction on both sides of the issue.
A majority of the justices determined that neither the text of the Constitution nor the nation's history provided a right to end a pregnancy. The decision means an immediate halt to abortion in Wisconsin, allowing for the state's 1849 ban to take effect.
Two protests are scheduled — a rally for reproductive justice is planned for 6 p.m. Friday at Houdini Plaza and Planned Parenthood Advocates of Wisconsin planned a protest rally at noon Sunday at Houdini Plaza.
Here's a sampling of Fox Cities politicians' and stakeholders' statements and social media posts:
Outagamie County executive and U.S. Senate candidate Tom Nelson: "Today the Supreme Court’s extremist majority showed its true colors — trading away basic rights and freedoms for a backwards, dystopian vision that the majority of Americans DON’T want."
State Sen. Roger Roth, a Republican from Appleton: "Today we celebrate the thousands of babies that will be saved because the state’s existing statute is once again the law of the land."
State Rep. Ron Tusler, a Republican from Harrison: "It is now illegal for doctor's to end a child's life unless it is to save the life of the mother. This is a great day for the people of Wisconsin."
State Rep. Rachael Cabral-Guevera, a Republican from Appleton: "Day to praise! Life wins."
State Rep. Lee Snodgrass, a Democrat from Appleton: "Hey, WI GOP! Enjoy the massive brain drain when working women across the state move to MN and IL where they have the right to manage their own healthcare decisions. One hell of a way to really double down on that workforce and child care shortage issue!"
Karmen Lemke, the director of Catholic charities for the Diocese of Green Bay, said the Supreme Court ruling doesn't "in any way change the work account of the Catholic Church here in Northeast Wisconsin. We're consistent in our messaging of dignity of life, from conception to natural death.”
Kathy Flores, anti-violence program director at nonprofit organization Diverse & Resilient in Appleton, said, "People needing abortions in northeast Wisconsin already had to travel quite a bit of distance to get an abortion, either in Milwaukee or Madison or Sheboygan. Now, patients will have to travel even further risking their lives, their livelihoods and their well-being."
Sophia Voight can be reached at svoight@postcrescent.com or 920-993-7102. Follow her on Twitter @sophia_voight.
This article originally appeared on Appleton Post-Crescent: Appleton leaders talk about Supreme Court overturning Roe v. Wade
