The U.S. Supreme Court issued a shameful ruling on Friday, June 24, 2022 overturning Roe v. Wade — the landmark decision recognizing the constitutional right to abortion nearly 50 years ago. The ruling in this case, Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization, set off a chain reaction of states banning abortion and criminalizing essential health care throughout entire regions of the country.  

In Minnesota, abortion remains legal. Abortion access is protected under our state Constitution as an important privacy right under the Doe v. Gomez case. But there are numerous restrictions, and the right remains vulnerable. 

FAQs about the Supreme Court's shameful decision

The decision on when - and whether - to give birth belongs to individuals, not the government.

Do you need an abortion or financial assistance?

Since its inception in 1920, the ACLU has recognized that personal privacy and reproductive freedom are among our most important constitutional liberties. This includes the right to choose to have an abortion as well as the right to access contraception. The ACLU was the first national organization to argue for abortion rights in the U.S. Supreme Court, and has been the principal defender of those rights since 1973, when the Court recognized the right to choose in Roe v. Wade.

The ACLU of Minnesota has a long, strong history of protecting a person's right to make personal and intimate decisions about their own bodies. Through litigation, advocacy, community engagement, and public education, the ACLU of Minnesota aims to protect access to the full spectrum of reproductive health care and opposes efforts to erode these rights with government-imposed restrictions.

We also recognize the disproportionate impact that restrictions on reproductive freedom have had on communities of color, people in rural areas, and people struggling to get by. We strive to ensure that all people, regardless of their gender identity, race, income, or citizenship status have access to comprehensive reproductive health care, free from government interference. 

Watch the Day-after Decision Debrief

ACLU-MN's Legal Director Teresa Nelson joined Gender Justice to explain the Dobbs decision LIVE. Catch their insights about the opinions issued in Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization, the implications for reproductive rights and more.

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BY THE NUMBERS

  • Abortion is one of the safest medical procedures performed today. It’s 99% safe, according to the Centers for Disease Control.
  • 19 states banned or restricted abortion after Roe v. Wade is overturned.
  • Nearly 1 in 3 women will have an abortion in her lifetime.
  • 6 out of every 10 women who have an abortion are already mothers.

WHAT'S AT STAKE

A decision about having a baby or having an abortion is a deeply personal, private decision best left to a person, their family, and their doctor. Yet some politicians remain obsessed with interfering.

Abortion is one of the most common medical procedures performed today, and it’s incredibly safe. But laws that make it difficult if not impossible for a person to get an abortion if they need one, particularly if they are poor, are increasing at an alarming pace. Since 2011, states have enacted more restrictions to abortion than they did in the previous 10 years combined. Extremist politicians continue to work to shut down people’s health centers, cut off access to affordable birth control, and shame people who have abortions.

Through litigation, advocacy, and public education, we strive to ensure that every person has the opportunity to make a real decision and the ability to get the care they need. With your help, the ACLU stands ready to block efforts to take this decision away from people and their families.

Our work focuses on a range of issues, including protecting access to affordable contraception, protecting a person’s ability to make personal, private decisions about pregnancy and abortion, and fighting pregnancy discrimination.