Asian Americans add their voices to SCOTUS case that could overturn Roe v. Wade

SCREEN CAPTURE / NBC

Pro-choice advocates demonstrate in front of the Supreme Court.

Asian American groups are calling on the U.S. Supreme Court to reject a call by the state of Mississippi to overturn Roe v. Wade and allow individual states to ban or end the legal right to abortion.

“We know that abortion access is already difficult for AAPI women," said Sung Yeon Choimorrow, Executive Director, National Asian Pacific American Women's Forum (NAPAWF) in filing a friend of the court brief in 

"The cultural stigma and shame that comes with talking about abortion, let alone getting one, is compounded with significant language and economic barriers that can make accessing abortion care a harrowing and terrifying experience,” she said. “This is especially true for AAPI women who are over-represented in low-paying, service jobs and are more likely to not have health care coverage to begin with.” 

The National Asian Pacific American Women’s Forum (NAPAWF) and Asian Americans Advancing Justice – AAJC (Advancing Justice – AAJC), filed an amicus brief in Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization, which is slated to be heard on Dec. 1.

Also on Monday, the Department of Justice sought permission to present oral arguments when the nation's highest court hears challenges to Mississippi's strict abortion law, as the DOJ called on justices to uphold Roe v. Wade.

Overturning Roe v. Wade will effectively end legal abortion in at least 22 states, several of which are home to large and growing AAPI communities. For instance, the AAPI population in Georgia, Texas, and North Carolina, has grown 138%, 128%, and 154%, respectively, since 2000. The rolling back of reproductive rights by banning access to abortion care will jeopardize the well-being and financial stability for millions of AAPI women and families.

The amicus brief filed Monday emphasizes the unconstitutionality imposed by pre-viability abortion bans and the need to protect the constitutional right for continued access to abortion care for AAPI women. The barriers to safe reproductive care will become even more profound if Mississippi’s pre-viability abortion ban is upheld due to laws that unfairly target pregnant AAPI women for criminal prosecution.

The DOJ's brief backs Jackson Women’s Health Organization, the only abortion clinic in Mississippi, in its fight over the state’s attempt to ban the procedure after 15 weeks of pregnancy.

Since Roe v. Wade became law, it has survived a plethora of challenges. However, abortion foes are betting that the Supreme Court's 6-3 conservative majority will abolish Roe v. Wade.

In 2020, AAPI women experienced the highest rates of long-term unemployment among minority women since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Department of Justice sought permission Monday to present oral arguments when the Supreme Court hears a case challenging Mississippi's strict abortion law, as it called on justices to uphold Roe v. Wade.

Earlier this month, all three of the activist conservative Justices who were appointed by Trump, voted in the 5-4 majority vote taken in the middle of the night decided to not hear challenges to a controversial Texas law that would ban most abortions after five weeks, thus allowing it to become law in Texas. Chief Justice Roberts sided with the liberal Justices.

Underlining the Biden administration's support of Roe v. Wade, on Monday,  administration cited that law as it formally backed the Women’s Health Protection Act, a bill that would shield abortion rights across the country.

“In the wake of Texas’ unprecedented attack, it has never been more important to codify this constitutional right and to strengthen health care access for all women, regardless of where they live,” Biden’s Office of Management and Budget said in a prepared statement.

“We will not allow this country to go backwards on women’s equality,” said the statement.