MILWAUKEE — Planned Parenthood of Wisconsin has announced plans to restore abortion services at both their Milwaukee and Madison centers.
Planned Parenthood CEO and President Tanya Atkinson released the following statement Thursday:
“On June 24, 2022, the US Supreme Court took away our constitutional right to abortion overturning 50 years of court precedent. At that time, Planned Parenthood of Wisconsin made the agonizing decision to suspend abortion services to protect the physicians and staff who care for patients and our communities from the threat of being prosecuted under an archaic Wisconsin law criminalizing abortion. For more than a year, patients have been forced to navigate significant barriers to access safe, legal abortion, if they were able to access that care at all.
A decision by the Dane County Circuit Court in July made it clear that the 1849 law is not enforceable for voluntary abortions. Planned Parenthood of Wisconsin, in consultation with attorneys, physicians, partners, and other stakeholders, has made the decision to restore this necessary reproductive health care. We are incredibly grateful to the many supporters across Wisconsin who didn’t give up and helped in so many ways to make this possible.
Planned Parenthood will never back down until abortion access is protected — and expanded — for the patients who count on us for care. No matter what.“
Speaking on WTMJ N.O.W., Atkinson said appointments are already available on Monday.
Planned Parenthood Medical Director Dr. Allison Linton says at this point they don’t know what to expect as far as demand. “We are going to be sort of adapting as quickly as possible…it’s going to be in constant motion over the next couple of weeks looking at schedules from day-to-day.”
Wisconsin Governor Tony Evers said in part this morning:
“I’ve been clear from the beginning that I would fight to restore reproductive freedom in our state with every power and every tool we have, and I’ve spent every day over the last year doing just that. Today’s announcement from Planned Parenthood of Wisconsin as a result of our lawsuit regarding Wisconsin’s criminal abortion ban means Wisconsinites will once again be able to access vital reproductive healthcare and abortion services without exception for the first time since June of last year. This is critically important news for Wisconsin women and patients across our state who, for a year now, have been unable to access the healthcare they need when and where they need it.”
In response, Assembly Speaker Robin Vos expressed concerned that Planned Parenthood was trying to circumvent the 1849 law while the decision was still playing out in the courts.
“If Planned Parenthood is convinced that they are going to win at the state supreme court that they are willing to break the law, which the law on the books is still the 1849 statue, it’s just another reminder that some people flout the law whether it’s on the books or not.”
TOP HEADLINES FROM THE WTMJ NEWS TEAM:
- Domes idea: Partner with a local college or university
- No local police? Big Bend wouldn’t be first in Waukesha County
- Wisconsin-Marquette volleyball sets state women’s sports attendance record
- Chef Adam Pawlak tries Greg’s Pimento Cheese on Wisconsin’s Afternoon News
- WATCH: Giannis & Mariah highlight National Diaper Need Awareness Week with Milwaukee Diaper Mission
PAST REPORTING: Planned Parenthood of Illinois, Wisconsin announce partnership to provide abortion care to Wisconsinites
