Congresswoman Ayanna Pressley, D-MA, whose district includes Randolph, chair of the Abortion Rights and Access Task Force, joined celebrities, abortion rights activists, and members of the Pro-Choice Caucus & the Democratic Women’s Caucus on the steps of the Supreme Court of the United States (SCOTUS) March 4 for a rally during the oral arguments for June Medical Services, LLC v. Russo.

The June Medical Services, LLC v. Russo case is a major abortion rights case which challenges a Louisiana law that would close clinics and decimate abortion access in Louisiana, Pressley said. If the law goes into effect, two of the three abortion clinics in the state will close, leaving 1 million women of reproductive age with one abortion provider.

Pressley led a resolution with more than 100 of her colleagues reaffirming Congress’s support for the landmark Supreme Court decision Roe v. Wade. Additionally, she introduced the Affordability is Access Act – legislation that would make birth control available over the counter while ensuring it remains covered by health insurance plans. Pressley also sent a letter to Massachusetts state legislators urging passage of the ROE Act, which would eliminate the parental consent requirement for individuals under 18-years-old accessing abortion services.

“As chair of the Abortion Rights and Access Task Force alongside this new pro-choice majority in Congress, we are saying no more – abortions rights are human rights,” Pressley said at the rally. “Abortion care is health care. Period. Reproductive justice is economic justice and reproductive justice is racial justice.

“Every person, regardless of income, sexual orientation or gender identity, deserves equitable access to comprehensive reproductive health care, including queer, trans, and non-binary individuals.

“Laws that block individuals from exercising their reproductive freedom undermine the very nature of equality and disproportionately harm our lowest income communities, our Black and brown sisters and our LGBTQ+ neighbors.”

Goldstein pushes for abortion rights

Boston-based physician and candidate for the Massachusetts Eighth Congressional District, Robbie Goldstein, said he will fight for reproductive rights as the Supreme Court takes up a landmark abortion rights case.

The United States Supreme Court was scheduled to hear initial arguments in June Medical Services v. Russo last week. The case raises fundamental questions about the future of reproductive freedom, and follows a trend of state-based efforts to chip away at constitutionally protected reproductive rights, Goldstein said.

“This case was settled four years ago in Whole Woman’s Health v. Hellerstedt, and the constitution hasn’t changed in those four years,” Goldstein saud. “The only thing that has changed since then is the makeup of the Supreme Court when Brett Kavanaugh replaced Anthony Kennedy.”

Goldstein, who will face U.S. Rep. Stephen Lynch in the Democratic Primary in September, said that as a doctor, he has seen the effects of restricted reproductive rights and vows to fight to maintain and expand reproductive freedom in this country.

“This is a sneak attack that has a real chance to completely eliminate reproductive choice, without ever explicitly saying so,” Goldstein said. “As a physician, I know firsthand the dangerous impact taking away reproductive freedom will have, and unlike my opponent, I will fight tooth and nail to ensure reproductive rights are protected and health and wellbeing of all people is prioritized.”

The Eighth Congressional District includes Canton, Holbrook and Stoughton.