Today, as the U.S. Supreme Court heard Mississippi’s case to ban abortion after 15 weeks and potentially overturn Roe, Oregon faith leaders held a press conference at Congregation Beth Israel to publicly denounce Mississippi’s law and other state bans. In this multi-faith gathering, speakers featured prominent leaders in Jewish and Chrisitan communities, including Pastor Morgan Schmidt, Senator and Rev Dr. Deb Patterson, Rev. Eilidh Lowry, and Rev. Dr. Chuck Currie.
In a press release for the conference, Planned Parenthood Advocates of Oregon lambasted states for passing abortion bans, including neighboring states like Idaho.
The advocacy organization writes, “If states like Idaho are allowed to ban abortion, studies show that Oregon health centers would see a 234% increase in out-of-state patients forced to travel long distances for care. And even though abortion is protected in Oregon statute, Eastern Oregonians could see up to a 35% decrease in abortion access because of the longer travel burden.”
Oregon faith leaders who spoke today, warn that the consequences of these restrictive and even punitive laws will disproportionately impact Black, Brown, and Indigenous people; the LGBTQ+ community; people with low incomes; and those living in rural areas.
- KBOO