Political Updates
A Roe of Our Own Currently, abortion is illegal in Wisconsin. A law dating back to the 1800's, which criminalizes anyone receiving or providing an abortion, remains on its books. This law will come back into effect in Wisconsin if Roe v. Wade is ever overturned. A Roe of Our Own is a campaign to ensure that no matter what happens to Roe v. Wade, Wisconsin women's right to a safe, legal abortion will be protected. This campaign will ensure that Wisconsin is prepared if the right to choose is threatened by a weakening of Roe or further federal encroachments. A Roe of Our Own will take the principles underlying Roe v. Wade and put them squarely into Wisconsin law, ensuring that every individual has a fundamental right to privacy with respect to personal medical decisions. Our vision is of a state where all women have the necessary resources to make private, personal medical decisions without interference from the government or politicians. Wisconsin Needs A Roe of Our Own In 2007 - for the first time ever - the US Supreme Court upheld a ban on a safe medical procedure. The Federal Abortion ban criminalizes abortions considered safest for some women with particular high-risk medical conditions, even when a woman's health is threatened. In a 5-4 decision, with President Bush's two new anti-choice Justices siding against women's health, the Court threw out years of precedent and declared that abortion bans can ignore women's health. The anti-choice majority Bush created on the Court persists and this signals a dangerous imbalance that could undermine or allow the overturning of Roe v. Wade at any time. Wisconsin women can no longer depend on the Supreme Court to protect our right to a safe, legal abortion. We need a Roe of Our Own so that no matter what happens to Roe at the federal level, Wisconsin woman are protected.  What is Roe v. Wade?In 2008, we celebrated the 35th anniversary of Roe v. Wade, the single most groundbreaking case concerning reproductive rights. The United States Supreme Court ruled in 1973 that the fundamental right to privacy includes women's access to safe, legal abortion and that governmental interference with that right is subject to judicial scrutiny. Before the Roe decision, abortion was illegal in most states (including Wisconsin). Roe protects the fundamental right of women to decide whether and when to bear a child. The Supreme Court's 2007 decision to uphold the Federal Abortion Ban effectively reversed Supreme Court precedent and rolled back a key protection for women's health that has been guaranteed since Roe. The threat to Roe has never been greater. What if Roe is overturned? Abortion will immediately be illegal in Wisconsin. Wisconsin has an antiquated abortion ban from the mid-1800's still on its books that carries a penalty of up to 15 years in jail (and up to $50,000 in fines) for doctors who provide abortions and up to 3.5 years in jail (and up to $10,000 in fines) for women who have an abortion or attempt to perform an abortion on themselves. There is no exception for cases of rape or incest or pregnancies that risk the health of the woman. If Roe is overturned, Wisconsin's Criminal Abortion Ban will immediately go back into effect, and abortion will once again become a crime in our state. The consequences will be dire. Wisconsin needs a Roe of Our Own to repeal Wisconsin's Criminal Abortion Ban and ensure that no matter what happens to Roe v. Wade women in Wisconsin will be protected. Take Action! 1 - Sign the Petition - Sign the Roe of Our Own petition and ask friends and family to sign too! Click here to go to our legislative action page and sign the petition. 2 - Order a Roe Postcard Kit - Tell 10 friends about the need for a Roe of Our Own in Wisconsin and ask them to sign a postcard petition. Email volunteer@prochoicewisconsin.org with your name and address, and we will send you a Roe Postcard Kit with instructions on how to collect postcard signatures and 10 postcards. Once you get the postcards signed, you can return them to us with the envelope we provide and we will deliver them to your state legislators. 3 - Write a Letter to the Editor - Inform your community of the need for A Roe of Our Own in Wisconsin by sending a letter to the editor of your local paper. Email jessica@prochoicewisconsin.org with your name and address. We will send you the necessary contact information for your local paper and several sample letters, which you may edit to your liking and submit. Other Resources | 
