SCOTUS Could Reject Roe V. Wade, But WI Democrats 'Won't Back Down'

WISCONSIN — The U.S. Supreme Court is poised to strike down Roe v. Wade, according to a report from Politico, leading to an outcry from advocates for reproductive health rights and the Badger State's Democratic leadership. If the court overturns the 1973 ruling, Wisconsin would be one of the states where abortion would be criminalized.

Justice Samuel Alito's draft was a "full-throated, unflinching repudiation" of the Roe v. Wade decision, which gave federal protections to abortion rights in all 50 states, Politico reported. In his draft, Alito called the ruling "egregiously wrong from the start."

Chief Justice John Roberts confirmed on Tuesday that the draft was authentic, but the decision wasn't final. The judge directed the Marshal of the Court to investigate the leak, he added.

While the decision isn't final, it set off dire alarms for elected officials, advocates, American women and transgender people.

See Also Roe V. Wade Will Be Struck Down, Politico Reports, Citing Leaked Draft

The right to have an abortion in Wisconsin hinges on Roe v. Wade, since a 172-year-old law would otherwise criminalize abortion in the state.

If the ruling is overturned, "abortion will then be illegal at any point in pregnancy and this will be our reality in our state," State Rep. Francesca Hong said in a statement. "No complacency. We won't back down. Period."

Abortion is still legal in Wisconsin, and providers can still give proper care, Planned Parenthood of Wisconsin said in a statement. The organization encouraged people to make a plan if the court decides to overturn the ruling, which could happen in June.

"This could have disastrous consequences for Wisconsinites — including Wisconsin women and their families — more than 70 percent of whom do not support overturning the Roe decision," Gov. Tony Evers said in a statement. It would be up to Congress to pass legislation to protect Wisconsinites' and Americans' reproductive rights, Evers added.

If the U.S. Senate wants to protect reproductive rights, they would need to pass the Women's Health Protection Act, which is under a filibuster, U.S. Sen Tammy Baldwin said in a statement.

Meanwhile, activists in Milwaukee and Madison are mobilizing rallies and marches in hopes that enough public voices might reverse the Supreme Court's intentions. Activists will rally at Milwaukee's Red Arrow Park at 4 p.m. on Wednesday, and a separate rally will take place at Madison's Tenney Park at 2 p.m. on Sunday.

In light of the potential decision, two Wisconsin organizations are calling for donations to help Wisconsinites pay for abortions. The Freedom Fund uses 100 percent of its donations to fund abortions for Wisconsin residents, the organization said in a Twitter post. And the Women's Medical Fund is halfway to its $40,000 goal, which would pay for 41 abortions, the group said in a statement.

An analysis found that 23 states have laws that would limit abortion access if Roe v. Wade is overturned, CNN reported. Legislators in 13 states have passed laws that would limit access immediately if the ruling is rejected.