Word of the Supreme Court considering overturning Roe v. Wade was met with cheers by abortion rights opponents who protest outside a Walnut Creek Planned Parenthood site regularly.
The CEO said this potential decision by the high court will change the way services are provided at clinics.
“It will certainly impact Californians’ ability to access care as well,” said Gilda Gonzales.
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She said a recent study shows local California clinics could see a 3,000% increase in the number of patients from out of state, if Roe v. Wade is overturned.
They also say since last year’s Texas ruling, dramatically limiting abortions, Planned Parenthood clinics in California have seen 80 out-of-state patients per month.
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“I’m so proud that we stand in a state like California that has publicly declared that it is a reproductive freedom state, so we know we are not alone,” said Gonzales.
Two abortion rights opponents demonstrated outside the Walnut Creek clinic Tuesday saying they are there in shifts from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. They didn’t want to be identified but did react to the Supreme Court’s leaked draft.
“Our intentions, our hopes will never change, that is that all life will be respected from conception until natural death,” said one of the demonstrators.
Both say they don't see any case where an abortion should be legal, even in the case of incest or rape.
“The unborn baby is not responsible for the rape,” said the demonstrator. “The baby still has a right to life, the circumstances are horrible but it doesn't make it any better to have two deaths, the unborn and a traumatic experience.”
The Planned Parenthood NorCal DEO says if the ruling holds, and Roe is overturned, they will adapt and prepare to do more ensure access to safe abortions for everyone.
“I mean a next generation of healthcare providers who can serve patients both in brick and mortar health centers as well as telehealth,” said Gonzales.
Even though abortion rights are protected in Calfironia, last year’s Texas ruling prompted State Senator Nancy Skinner, a democrat from Berkeley, to take action.
She introduced a bill that would help women find abortion providers in California.
“That bill would basically set up a website where someone would go up and find exactly where services are available and all the information one would need,” said Skinner.
The bill would also set up a travel fund to provide grants for women if they need help.
But not all Californians support how some abortion rights supporters are reacting to a possible reversal of Roe v. Wade.
Shane Patrick Connolly, a spokesman for the Republican Party in Santa Clara County, says it’s important to note that no actual decision has been made.
“That is premature perhaps and it’s a really egregious breach of the Supreme Court’s deliberative process which is supposed to be free of partisan politics.”
For now, everyone is left waiting and wondering till the final ruling is released, which is still potentially months away.
