Today, Congresswoman Deborah Ross (NC-02) hosted a Reproductive Freedom Summit with Attorney General Josh Stein, Senior Director of External Affairs for Planned Parenthood South Atlantic Alison Kiser, Senator Natalie Murdock, Reverend Nancy Petty of Pullen Memorial Baptist Church, and Dr. Michele Benoit-Wilson on the second anniversary of the Supreme Court’s Dobbs v. Jackson Women's Health Organization decision which overturned Roe v. Wade. In the past two years, extreme Republicans across the country, including in North Carolina, have threatened access to reproductive health care – from enacting radical abortion bans to attacking IVF care and more. 

Photos are available here.

Last year, Republicans in the General Assembly fast-tracked a sweeping 12-week abortion ban following the Dobbs decision. The state now has one of the longest waiting periods in the country – tied with Utah – at 72 hours. Today, the leaders heard from local stakeholders and answered questions about the future of reproductive care in North Carolina.

“Two years ago, the Supreme Court eviscerated women’s fundamental rights and endangered the lives of women in North Carolina and across the country,” said Congresswoman Ross. “Today, women facing serious medical complications are being turned away from emergency rooms, and doctors are being threatened with jail time for doing their jobs. In the face of these attacks on women, doctors, and our health care, we will never give up the fight to ensure every woman can access the reproductive care she needs. I’m grateful for the partnership of everyone who joined our summit today and for all those who are working to defend reproductive freedom in North Carolina and nationwide.”

“Today is a sad and somber day as we mark the 2-year anniversary of the Dobbs decision,” said Attorney General Stein. “North Carolina was once a beacon of hope for the Southeast when it comes to reproductive health care – but our legislature walked our state backwards, and they’re not done yet. Politicians do not belong in the exam room where women are making personal decisions for themselves and their families, and I will never stop fighting for their reproductive freedom.”