FILE (Photo by Anthony Behar/Sipa USA)
NEW YORK (77WABC) — New York officials and activists are preparing to welcome women from out-of-state in the wake of the Supreme Court’s decision Friday to overturn Roe v. Wade.
Planned Parenthood of Greater New York, which operates 23 centers throughout the state, said it was increasing the availability of appointments by 20 percent in the wake of the decision on Roe v. Wade on Friday.
“Banning abortion does not take away people’s need to access abortion. We believe all people — no matter where they live — should have the right to control their own bodies, lives, and futures,” Joy Calloway, interim president and CEO of Planned Parenthood of Greater New York, said in a statement. “It is unacceptable that people in some states have been robbed of that right, forced to overcome unjust barriers to access the abortion care they need and deserve.”
Elected officials had been planning for the law to be overturned, announcing last month a host of funding and new measures to welcome out-of-state abortion seekers.
State Attorney General Letitia James promised last month to set aside $50 million to help women seeking abortions. Part of those funds will be used for women arriving in New York from other states where the procedures are illegal.
Gov. Kathy Hochul also declared the state “a safe harbor” for women seeking abortions. Hochul announced an advertising campaign and new additions to a website that would help women in New York and throughout the country obtain information about abortions.
