We will continue to defend the rights of women and all individuals to make decisions regarding their own bodies.
CHICAGO, June 24, 2022 — The Chicago Teachers Union issued the following statement today regarding the U.S. Supreme Court ruling to overturn the landmark Roe v. Wade decision, striking down the constitutional right to abortion.
We are outraged by the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision in Dobbs v. Jackson overturning the right of pregnant individuals to control their bodies, their lives and their futures. The announcement today by a right-wing Court, which includes three justices appointed by former president Donald Trump, is an attempt to completely eliminate the right to abortion — a right that has been fundamental to the lives of individuals in our country for nearly half a century.
Overturning Roe opens the door to the further imposition of government into people’s lives, and threatens rights like access to contraception, gay marriage and other freedoms that can no longer be taken for granted. It is also a tentacle of a vile and discriminatory movement against our rights to public education, fair housing, affordable health care, gun control and the right to vote.
If these forces had their way, our country would return to a settler state, with Black Americans back on plantations, LGBTQIA+ individuals in the shadows, women barefoot and pregnant, and land-holding, gun-toting white men the only individuals with freedom.
Today’s decision, which clearly represents a right-wing fringe and not the views of the majority of Americans, is an attempt to silence women and others, and revert to a previous era of blatant gender discrimination.
In May, our highest governing body, the CTU House of Delegates, passed a resolution in support of reproductive rights. The resolution stated, in part, that:
The Chicago Teachers Union will publicly stand in defense of abortion and reproductive rights and will encourage its members to participate in activities including rallies and demonstrations, lobbying and political campaigns, educational events, and other actions to support the right to abortion, contraception and other reproductive rights.
We will continue to defend the rights of women and all individuals to make decisions regarding their own bodies. We are a union of women, and LGBTQIA+ educators, students and families, and we will never stand by idly while the lives and freedom of our members, our students, and our communities are undermined in such a fundamental way.
