A Call to Action

June 24, 2022, will be remembered as a dark day in American history. In striking down Roe v. Wade, the Supreme Court of the United States, for the first time, removed a constitutional right and fundamentally changed our ability to make choices about whether and when to have children.

I’m proud to live in Maryland, where we passed — over the veto of the governor — the Abortion Access Act that protects and expands access to reproductive choice.

So, now what?

First, we can expect that Maryland will receive an influx of people from other states who will no longer be able to have an abortion. We need to be prepared to help these people. If you are able, support providers who will step up, like Planned Parenthood of Maryland and Baltimore Abortion Fund – BAF.

Second, we need to support the medical providers who will be providing these additional services — we need that $3.5 million (in the Abortion Access Act) to train additional health care workers NOW — and we’ll need additional funds to expand that training.

We must continue to press the governor to release those funds — they are enshrined in law — but his unwillingness to act will endanger lives.

Third, we need to enact laws to protect anyone here in Maryland — whether it’s health care professionals, lawyers, friends or advocates — who helps someone from another state coming to Maryland for abortion care.

We cannot allow the long arm of another state’s law — one that criminalizes assisting someone to get an abortion — to reach into Maryland.

Fourth, we need to take a deep look at our in-state medical training to ensure that the health care professionals who can provide abortions — doctors, nurses, physicians assistants, etc. — here in Maryland are getting the best education because medical training in anti-choice states will be decimated.

Fifth, we should pass a constitutional amendment in Maryland to protect a right to an abortion. This will provide a broader array of protections and cement this fundamental right in our state’s most important legal document.

Finally, we need to elect legislative leaders who are pro-choice. The Supreme Court has left it to each state to determine for itself whether to allow abortions.

It’s critically important that we elect decisionmakers who believe in this fundamental right. This is no time to be wishy-washy. We must elect a solidly pro-choice governor, attorney general and General Assembly.

Shelly L. Hettleman is a Democratic member of the Maryland Senate representing District 11.