The news that the Women’s Health Protection Act failed to get the 60 votes needed to advance in the US Senate on Wednesday was heartbreaking. The bill, which would legalize abortion throughout the United States, was blocked by 50 Republicans and Democratic Senator Joe Manchin.
This was seen as a major setback for women’s rights, as the bill would have protected the right to abortion by law. This issue is especially important for Latinas in particular, as we often suffer the most from a lack of access to reproductive health care.
“Latinas have some of the highest rates of unintended pregnancy in the country, and restricting access to abortion only worsens that problem,” said Cristina Jiménez, executive director of United We Dream, in a statement. “This is why we need the Women’s Health Protection Act – to protect our right to make our own decisions about our bodies and our health.”
Despite the setback, Latinas and other activists vowed to continue fighting for reproductive justice. “We will not be silenced, and we will not give up,” said Jiménez. “Our lives and our futures are at stake.”
This issue is fundamental to Latinas, who make up the majority of women in the United States who are affected by abortion bans. According to a 2014 report from the Guttmacher Institute, Latinas are twice as likely as white women to have an abortion.
“Latinas have the most to lose if this bill does not pass,” said Adriana Cazorla, national Latina field director for NARAL Pro-Choice America. “We are already facing enough obstacles to accessing quality health care, and this would only make it worse.”
Cazorla urged Latinas to continue fighting for their rights, saying, “We cannot let this setback discourage us. We will continue to fight until every Latina has the right to make their own decisions about their body.”
By Diane Revilla
