"The Cruelty Is The Point"

Athletes and sports organizations reacted largely with horror to Friday’s Supreme Court decision in Roe v. to overthrow Wade and allow for dozens of state laws criminalizing abortion.

“This decision shows a branch of government that so much misses the connection to the country and any sense of human dignity,” said the Prime Minister This was announced by the WNBA Players’ Association in a statement less than two hours after the court officially ruled Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization.

Sue Vogel tweeted that she was “eviscerated”. Your team, the Seattle Storm, said They are “angry and ready to fight”.

That WNBPA Statement continued: “This ruling offers an insidious path to abortion bans, which could increase economic, social and political inequalities and lead to higher maternal mortality, while eroding the right to reproductive freedom for all.”

The NWSL Players’ Association also “strongly condemned” the decision – “a decision that effectively deprives a person of the right to make decisions about their own body, a fundamental human right at the core of every aspect of life”. NWSLPA said in a statement later Friday afternoon.

Megan Rapinoe delivers an emotional response, a call to action

Individual soccer players also spoke out against the verdict in the camp of the US women’s national team. On a previously scheduled Zoom call with reporters Friday afternoon, midfielder Lindsey Horan said she was “still a little bit shocked” and called it a “step backwards for our country”.

Forward Megan Rapinoe, who was originally not scheduled to meet with reporters, asked to speak in light of the court ruling and wiped away tears as she described a “disheartening,” “upset” and “scary day.”

in a (n unscripted opening statement Lasting more than nine minutes, she stressed that the decision will hit different groups of marginalized women hardest.

“We know this will disproportionately affect poor women, black women, brown women, immigrants, women in abusive relationships, women who have been raped, women and girls who have been raped by family members — [or] who, you know what, might just not have made the best choice,” she said.

“And that’s no reason to be forced into pregnancy. It will totally exacerbate so many of the existing inequalities that we have in our country. It doesn’t hold a single person safer. It doesn’t hold a single child Safer, certainly. And it doesn’t hold a single – term included – woman more securely. We know the lack of abortions [rights] It doesn’t stop people from having abortions, it stops people from having safe abortions.”

Rapinoe also responded emotionally to concern – sparked by Justice Clarence Thomas’ unanimous opinion in Friday’s ruling – that the Obergefell v. Hodges protecting same-sex marriage and could ultimately overturn other landmark rulings:

“I absolutely believe that gay rights are being attacked, I absolutely believe that we’re going to see laws emerging from state to state that will eventually come to this radical court. I have no confidence that my rights will be upheld by the court. I have faith in our country and I have faith in the people and I have faith in the voters. And if you ever needed a damn motivation to vote, get involved — literally, people’s lives depend on it. actual life. We are talk about life and death and also your life what does it mean to even be alive? If you can’t be yourself, what the heck is the point?

She also explained why she doesn’t see the ruling as “pro-life,” and pointed to other areas — like healthcare — that will be affected by the Supreme Court’s decision.

“I just can’t underestimate how sad and how cruel this is. I think the cruelty is the point. Because that is by no means hostile to life. This mindset or political belief is coupled with a total lack of motivation around gun laws, it comes pro-death penalty, it comes anti-health care, anti-prenatal care, anti-childcare, anti-pre-K, anti-nutrition, anti -Welfare, anti-education, anti-maternity leave, anti-paternity leave.

“It’s not pro life. And it’s very frustrating and discouraging and frankly just annoying to hear that this is the reason people want to end abortion rights and this vital aspect of women – not just health care and general basic security in this country , but their bodily autonomy and the right to liberty and the pursuit of happiness and liberty are in this case under attack. And it’s just incredibly discouraging.”

She concluded by appealing to men who have been “silent” about abortion rights. “Get up,” she said. “Say something.”

She pointed out that the decision was made by a majority-male court and that the many systems and laws that discriminate against women in the US were created by men.

“You allow for a violent and consistent assault on the autonomy of women’s bodies, on women’s rights, on women’s minds, on our hearts, on our souls,” Rapinoe said when asked what her message was as a monolith to men would be. “We live in a country that is constantly trying to chop things away she have activated at what she were privileged enough to feel all your life.

“You also have the opportunity to do better every day. You have the opportunity to show up, to raise your voice, be it in the workplace, in a media zoom, in stadiums, in your family, whatever you choose. It’s not a women’s issue. It’s everyone’s business.”

Other prominent athletes speak out in Supreme Court, overturning Roe v. calf

Several athletes, past and present, cited the timing of the decision, a day after the 50th anniversary of Title IX, the watershed law that helped start a decades-long boom in women’s sports. “Yesterday we celebrated Title IX”, Orlando Magic Guard Devin Cannady tweeted. “Today we tell those same women that they don’t have the freedom to make decisions about their own bodies.

“I’m sick for you, I stand by you,” Cannady wrote. “This country needs to get better, this shit is so backward.”

Billie Jean King, the legendary former tennis player-turned-activist, called Friday “a sad day in the United States.”

Former Philadelphia Phillies general manager Ruben Amaro Jr. took to Twitter to express his anger, calling the decision “unilaterally unjust.”

Several teams and leagues responded with succinct statements, including the NBA and WNBA, pledging to provide their employees with access to reproductive health care.

“The NBA and WNBA believe women should be able to make their own decisions about their health care and their future, and we believe freedom must be protected.” it says in the joint statement. “We will remain committed to gender and health equity, including ensuring our employees have access to reproductive health care regardless of their location.”

In the NWSL, the Kansas City Current said they were “heartbroken.” That said OL Reign they “vehemently oppose the decision.” said Gotham FC it “vehemently opposes any retraction of Roe v. Wade and believes that reproductive rights are human rights.”

The NWSL released a statement of its own saying the ruling denied individuals “liberty and equality”.

“Today’s Supreme Court ruling denies the people of this country full liberty and equality, which are the cornerstones of a just society. Reproductive rights are human rights. As long as each individual does not have the same freedoms as his neighbor, our work is not done. We will continue to raise our voice. The NWSL is more than just a football league; we are a collective that will strive for what is right every day.”

While the strongest statements came from women’s leagues and teams, those are said Seattle Sounders of MLS They “believe in the right to autonomy over our bodies and the right to choose.” Your goalkeeper Stefan Frei tweeted that “our country is actively moving in the wrong direction”.

Orlando City, in a joint statement with Orlando Pride of the NWSLsaid that autonomy and access to safe reproductive health care are “fundamental, non-negotiable human rights, and our club strongly disagrees with today’s Supreme Court decision.”

“Today’s reversal of Roe v. Wade is one that will not only put many at risk, disproportionately those in BIPOC and underserved communities, but one that will open the door for future discrimination and civil rights abuses against other marginalized groups,” the two Orlando clubs continued.

“Defending human rights is a fight we will continue to fight, both for those affected today and for those who may be targeted in the future.”

Source link