DEAR EDITOR:

Three out of four Americans agree that abortion decisions should be left to the pregnant people and their doctors, while only 20 percent say abortions should be regulated by law, according to a recent Washington Post / ABC poll. While Democrats are seeking to protect reproductive rights, Republicans are working relentlessly to gut them and are promoting dangerous policies that put millions of pregnant people at risk.

Republican-appointed Supreme Court justices are preparing to strike down Roe v. Wade, eliminating the constitutional protection of abortion rights. Overturning Roe means that “trigger” laws in 13 states could immediately go into effect and leave millions of Americans without control over their own bodies.

Overturning Roe means that 24 states with laws on the books to punish abortion providers could start throwing doctors in jail.

Overturning Roe paves the way for Republican governors and state Legislatures to ban abortion with no exceptions for rape and incest.

Overturning Roe means that 58 percent of U.S. women of reproductive age, who live in states that are “hostile” to abortion, could lose the freedom to make their own reproductive choices.

Overturning Roe means people who are denied abortions will experience yearslong economic hardships, raise children alone and develop serious health problems at a higher rate than those who have had abortions, according to a University of California study.

America is facing a pivotal moment for abortion access. This November, all Republican lawmakers will have to answer for their party’s relentless attacks on Americans’ rights.

MARNE CARIO

Girard