On June 24, 2022, the lives, freedoms and rights to privacy of women in the United States were fundamentally altered when SCOTUS overruled Roe v. Wade, taking away 50 years of access to abortion. As we know, abortion is healthcare and, as such, is a woman’s own choice with her doctor. Whatever the reason, abortion is personal and not the purview of any government.

In Illinois, we benefit from years of hard work to enshrine reproductive freedom. Alas, our state is now an oasis in the Midwestern U.S. for women seeking abortions. Our work is never done and, without constitutional amendments or federal laws to protect us, we are only as safe as the next election. 

Together with Illinois NOW, League of Women Voters of Naperville, and National Council of Jewish Women Chicago / North Shore, branch members from AAUW Naperville Area rallied on Friday, June 24th at 5:30 p.m. to show our support for abortion rights.  Thank you to the several hundred community members and our branch members who were able to participate in this rally!

Barb Vernon, President of AAUW Naperville Area, said, 

“AAUW Naperville Area strongly supports choice in determining one’s reproductive life as well as increased access to healthcare and family planning services. AAUW Naperville Area trusts that every woman and person who can become pregnant has the ability to make their own informed choices regarding their reproductive life within the dictates of their own moral and religious beliefs. We are discouraged by the Supreme Court ruling today in the case of Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization which reverses nearly 50 years of constitutionally protected rights for women and people who can become pregnant. While we recognize and are grateful for the protections granted in the State of Illinois, we will continue to fight to protect reproductive rights which include access to contraceptive care, abortion, sexual health education and family planning services for all Americans.”

We stand together to ease access to abortion to those who seek one from outside of Illinois and to work to create and strengthen federal and state laws and constitutional amendments to protect women’s equality and the right to abortion.

Rally Photos