Today, after a successful ACLU court case and persistent grassroots action, we helped achieve justice for Jane Doe, a 17-year-old-woman who came to the U.S. without her parents and is in a government-funded shelter. The Trump Administration did everything imaginable to force her to stay pregnant against her will.
This morning Jane was able to end her pregnancy safely and legally. It’s her decision – that’s still the law in this country.
We still have much work to do to overturn the outrageous policies at the heart of this issue and secure justice for ALL Janes. We know there are many more Janes out there: young women being held in federal custody who are being denied the ability to get abortion care and coerced and shamed for their decisions.
But, today, the most powerful words I can share with you are those of Jane herself. Here’s an excerpt from a statement she released earlier today through her guardian:
“No one should be shamed for making the right decision for themselves. I would not tell any other girl in my situation what they should do. That decision is hers and hers alone.
I’ve been waiting for more than a month since I made my decision. It has been very difficult to wait in the shelter for news that the judges in Washington, D.C. have given me permission to proceed with my decision. I am grateful for this, and I ask that the government accept it. Please stop delaying my decision any longer.
My lawyers have told me that people around the country have been calling and writing to show support for me. I am touched by this show of love from people I may never know and from a country I am just beginning to know – to all of you, thank you.
This is my life, my decision. I want a better future. I want justice.”
Thanks to everyone, especially the entire ACLU family and activists like you, who fought to give Jane the justice she deserves.
Keep fighting!
Brigitte Amiri
ACLU attorney, fighting for reproductive rights
P.S. There’s still time to add your name to our petition, which we’re delivering to the Health and Human Services Department tomorrow, calling on the Trump Administration to stop denying women their basic human rights. Click here to add your name to the petition.
Filed under: General Problems
The ACLU has been contacted hundreds of times. It is just one more thing in Facebook groups that aggravated me. “So and so contacted the ACLU and they are looking over the case!” They are required to look at every case. They STRICTLY deal with Constitutional law. I recently found the following. It is done all the time. IE: states legalizing marijuana or medical marijuana. Just because it is done all of the time doesn’t mean it should or can. The WHO and UN have charged the US of violating International treaties by imposing torture of it’s citizens as well as US citizens fear their health and well being, up to and including death in the same way others fear their government and are given refugee status. I wondered why nothing has been done. Nothing has been done because there are no Federal laws on opiod, opiate prescribing. It has been done on state levels. The DEA had no business repeatedly storm trooping doctors offices and threatening them with drug trafficking. In my state there are NO pain doctors or clinics anymore. They might say so, but they only perform useless injections, etc which too are being denied by insurance companies to the tune of $800.00 per injection. I underwent them when my only issue was degenerative disc disease, before I came down with Internal Cystitis which is all I feel. It needs a new word. The word “pain” does not do it justice. I have had more surgeries for other issues than I can count on two hands. IC has literally ruined my life. In 6 years I have been to the hospital, doctor, drive thru pharmacy (so as to not have to properly dress) and 2 haircuts. I cannot as much as cook or sit at a table to eat. This is what I am referring to. I am in a state where no one will do anything. One actually got a television interview. What does she say? She talks about CBD oil and Kratom and that she asked her doctor to lower her pain meds!! Unbelievable. This is stated as a Contitutional amendment. Any thoughts? Thank you in advance. “NO STATE can pass a law superceding or changing a federal law” (Again, there are no Federal laws on opiod/opiate limits) There is no supremacy clause of the constitution. FDA DOES NOT LIMIT ANY OPIATE that is the federal law. An state trying to limit the use IS BREAKING THE LAW nullification it is called.
no analogy here. It hurts the chronic pain community when everything no matter what is turned into a but it hurts pain patients.