Pro-life activists reacted to the Supreme Court’s landmark decision on Friday to overturn Roe v. Wade, praising the decision as a victory for the unborn.
The court ruled 6-3 that there was not a constitutional right to abortion and that abortion legislation should be left to the states. Cheers erupted from a group of pro-life supporters outside the court shortly after the decision was announced.
Many pro-life leaders said the fight was just beginning, as many states, including California and New York, still have permissive abortion policies.
Susan B. Anthony Pro-Life America President Marjorie Dannenfelser said that it was a historic day for the unborn.
“Today marks an historic human rights victory for unborn children and their mothers and a bright pro-life future for our nation,” she said. “Today the Supreme Court, in line with modern science and overwhelming public consensus, recognized the truth in every mother’s heart and that pro-life advocates have argued all along: unborn children are human beings, deserving of protection.”
She also said now was the time to go on offense.
“An entirely new pro-life movement begins today. We are ready to go on offense for life in every single one of those legislative bodies, in each statehouse and the White House. Over the next few years we will have the opportunity to save hundreds of thousands, even millions of lives by limiting the horror of abortion in many states,” Dannenfelser said.
Abby Johnson, founder and president of And Then There Were None, celebrated the decision saying it was a long time coming.
“The Court not only overturned Roe but flat out rejected the argument that women need abortion to achieve their dreams, have the careers they want, and ultimately deny their femininity. This is a decision that pro-lifers have long-awaited and I am so humbled to have been a part of that fight for the last thirteen years since walking away from Planned Parenthood,” she said.
She also discussed the “utter destruction that the physical act of abortion causes on the unborn baby and the mother but the immediate aftermath of the decision on the woman.”
Johnson said that the “fight over abortion is moving to the states – instead of one fight, we now have 50. But there is nothing greater to fight for than the lives of the innocent.”
Pamela Whitehead, Executive Director of ProLove Ministries, also celebrated the decision.
“Today is a cause for celebration – a celebration of the recognition that Roe was wrongfully decided almost 50 years ago, that the argument that women need abortion to succeed in life was seen as a losing argument, that innocent life will automatically be protected in more than half the states in this nation,” she said.
Heather Lawless, Founder and CEO of Reliance Center, said that the fight was just beginning.
“We must fight for pro-life legislation in our own states, we must elect lawmakers who will uphold the sanctity of all life. Being pro-life is just a stance. Being pro-love is an action,” she said. “We have to continue to let our actions show that we intend to support and provide resources for women with unplanned pregnancies.”
“Today’s opinion in Dobbs spotlights what so many of us have been asking and shouting from the rooftops for decade[s],” said Carrie Murray Nellis, the executive director and caseworker supervisor of Abiding Love Adoption Agency. “What rights does the person, the baby inside her womb have? While we should take time to bask in the sun of this victory, we know that tomorrow we roll up our sleeves and begin the real work.”
Jeanne Mancini, president of the March for Life, also praised the decision.
“We are so grateful to the countless pro-life people of goodwill who contributed and sacrificed to make today possible – including the millions of those who have marched for life over the years – and we recognize that this is just the beginning of our work to advance policies that protect life. We will continue to march until abortion is unthinkable because equality begins in the womb,” she said.