DEL. NADARIUS CLARK MAKES A STATEMENT ON THE OVERTURNING OF ROE V WADE.

June 24th, 2022

Portsmouth, VA — Nadarius Clark, Delegate for Virginia's 79th District, which covers the localities of Portsmouth, Norfolk, and Chesapeake, spoke regarding the Supreme Court's decision released at 10:00 this morning to reverse decades of federal protections for women.

“My heart breaks for women across this country who do not know where to turn now. With 20 states either poised or having already taken measures to limit or completely outlaw abortion, I understand that those who have been outspoken in support of gender equality are tired, lost, and feel defeated. By their own admission, members of the Supreme Court are already talking about what this precedent setting reversal could mean for other Supreme Court decisions. The right to privacy, contraception, gay, and inter-racial marriage are all supported by the same constitutional principle that upheld Roe v. Wade and with it gone, my mind turns to what the far right has in store next.”

“Make no mistake, the sanctity of life has nothing to do with the real reason why Roe was struck down today. If it did then why have we decided that millions without stable housing or food, refugees living in camps and tents at our borders, and hundreds of thousands of Americans thrown into jail for addiction disorders, are all things we can live with? Repealing a woman’s right to control her own body is not pro-life, its anti-choice. It’s anti-free. It is just part of a larger theme of dehumanization in our country.”

“Enough is enough. Women are tired of being locked in a cage built by the hypocrisy of others. We must continue to fight like hell because we can not sit by and allow them to rewind the hands of time. It’s time for accountability and justice. We must show up at the polls and reclaim our power so we can fight on all levels of government for a fair and just government that supports all Americans.”

With Roe v. Wade reversed, abortion will immediately become either partially or completely illegal in 20 states while another 10 states are expected to introduce additional restrictions. Virginia and New Jersey are the only two states in the union that Democrats won by more than 10 points in 2020 with no state law codifying Roe v. Wade.

“With a Republican Governor and a Republican majority in the House of Delegates, every Democrat must be resolutely committed to supporting a woman’s right to choose. The Supreme Court decision today will only add fuel to the fire of Republican rhetoric and leaders in the House of Delegates are already prepared to file legislation on day one to roll back the progress we have made. We have to stand together and be ready for the fight of our lives.”

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