It’s two years since Roe v. Wade was overturned. In South Dakota and the rest of the country, the stakes are high.
South Dakota has one of the most restrictive laws in the country prohibiting all abortions after conception, with very few exceptions for the life of the mother. This November an initiative to change the state constitution is on the ballot. The Right to Abortion Initiative, Amendment G, proposes regulations based on trimesters, similar to Roe v. Wade - Sylvia Ghazarian
Two years ago, the Supreme Court’s decision to overturn Roe v. Wade marked a seismic shift in American reproductive rights. The repercussions have been swift and severe, with sweeping changes that jeopardize the health and autonomy of countless individuals. As we navigate the post-Roe landscape, the stakes could not be higher.
In the aftermath of the Supreme Court’s decision, nearly half of the states in the U.S. have enacted strict abortion bans or severe restrictions. States such as Texas, Oklahoma, Missouri and 11 others have implemented near-total bans, effectively cutting off access to abortion care for millions of people.
These laws have created a patchwork of reproductive health care access, where the legality and availability of abortion are determined by geographic location rather than personal choice and medical need. This inconsistency forces many to travel long distances, often at great personal and financial cost, to seek the care they need. At WRRAP, we have noticed 54% of patients are traveling this year to another state for care.
One of the critical fronts in the war against reproductive rights is the battle over mifepristone, a medication used in over half of all abortions in the U.S. Mifepristone, combined with misoprostol, and approved by the FDA has been a safe and effective method for medication abortion for decades. However, while the recent SCOTUS (seen above in a public domain image posted on wikimedia commons) ruling is a victory, it only addressed the issue of “standing,” leaving the abortion pill still under threat.
Anti-abortion legislators and activists have targeted mifepristone with the aim of limiting its distribution or banning it altogether. This would have devastating consequences, further reducing access to safe abortion care and disproportionately affecting those in marginalized communities who already face significant barriers to health care.
The fall of Roe has also emboldened efforts to restrict or ban other aspects of reproductive health, including IVF and contraception. Legislative attempts to define personhood at the moment of fertilization could severely impact IVF treatments. Such measures could drastically limit the options for individuals and couples struggling with infertility.
Moreover, contraception, once considered a settled issue, is now under scrutiny. Proposals to ban certain forms of contraception, such as emergency contraception and IUDs, are gaining traction. These efforts threaten to roll back decades of progress in reproductive health and autonomy, potentially leading to higher rates of unintended pregnancies and further exacerbating social and economic inequalities.
Perhaps most alarming is a national abortion ban. Project 2025, a comprehensive plan put forth by conservative activists, outlines a strategy to implement nationwide restrictions on abortion. This plan, if enacted, would override state laws that protect abortion rights and impose a uniform ban across the country. Such a move would represent an unprecedented federal intrusion into personal health care decisions and fundamentally alter the landscape of reproductive rights in America.
In addition to restrictive laws, there is a growing trend to criminalize doctors, patients, and anyone who assists individuals seeking abortion care. These punitive measures not only create a climate of fear but also deter health care providers from offering essential services. Criminalizing abortion care endangers both the providers and the patients, discouraging the practice and further reducing access to safe abortions.
The implications of these developments extend far beyond those directly seeking abortion care. The erosion of reproductive rights is a threat to the fundamental principle of bodily autonomy, a cornerstone of personal freedom and dignity. When the state can dictate whether and when individuals can have children, it undermines the ability of all people to make essential decisions about their lives and futures.
Moreover, these restrictions disproportionately impact marginalized communities, including people of color, low-income individuals and LGBTQ+ individuals. These groups often face the highest barriers to health care and are least able to travel long distances or navigate complex legal landscapes to obtain care. As such, the ongoing assault on reproductive rights exacerbates existing social and health inequities, entrenching systemic injustices even further.
In this critical moment, it is imperative to recognize that reproductive rights are human rights. The fight to preserve and expand access to abortion, contraception, and other reproductive health services is not just a women’s issue — it is a human issue. The ability to control one’s reproductive destiny is fundamental to achieving equality and justice for all.
South Dakota has one of the most restrictive laws in the country prohibiting all abortions after conception, with very few exceptions for the life of the mother. This November an initiative to change the constitution is on the ballot. The Right to Abortion Initiative, Amendment G, proposes regulations based on trimesters (similar to Roe v. Wade).
We must resist efforts to impose draconian restrictions on reproductive health care and work towards policies that ensure everyone has the freedom to make their own healthcare decisions. This means supporting local and national organizations like WRRAP, advocating for laws that protect reproductive rights, and voting for leaders who are committed to upholding these fundamental freedoms.
The stakes are high, but we cannot afford to be complacent. The future of reproductive rights — and the broader fight for human dignity and equality — depends on our collective action. Now more than ever, we must stand together to protect the right to safe, legal, and accessible reproductive healthcare for all.
Sylvia Ghazarian is executive director of the Women’s Reproductive Rights Assistance Project (WRRAP), a nonprofit abortion fund that provides urgently needed financial assistance on a national level to those seeking abortion or emergency contraception. She is an active council member on the California Future of Abortion Council and past chair of The Commission on the Status of Women.
