‘I just can’t understate how sad and how cruel this is’
Megan Rapinoe denounced the US Supreme Court’s decision to reverse the Roe v Wade abortion ruling, describing it as “cruel” and “sad” during an emotional press conference appearance on Friday.
Rapinoe and her Unites States teammates are due to face Colombia in a friendly this weekend. She had not been scheduled to speak at the pre-game press conference on Friday but, fighting back tears, appeared to make a passionate call for men to “stand up” and support those calling to re-establish the ruling.
Roe v Wade had existed for nearly 50 years
The ruling which gave women the legal right to choose abortion – commonly referred to as Roe v Wade – has existed in the States since 1973.
The court‘s decision to overturn it was made this week, handing power to the 50 states to determine individually if such a right should remain. As a result, many states may severely restrict or even ban the practice.
Rapinoe on ruling
“It’s hard to put into words how sad a day this is for me personally, for my teammates, for all of the people who are out there who this is going to affect,” Rapinoe told reporters.
“It will completely exacerbate so many of the existing inequalities that we have in our country. It doesn’t keep one single person safer, it doesn’t keep one single child safer, certainly, and it does not keep women safer.
https://www.instagram.com/p/CfNHJC-lyF9/?hl=en
“We know that the lack of abortion does not stop people having abortions, it stops people from having safe abortions.
“I would encourage people to understand all of the different aspects that overturning Roe v Wade will have on everyone in the entire country.
I just can’t understate how sad and how cruel this is.”
She added: “Stand up. Say something. This is your wife, this is your sister, this is your friend, this is your girlfriend, this is the mother of your children.
“This is all of us. And you are allowing a violent and consistent onslaught on the autonomy of women’s bodies, on women’s rights, on women’s minds, on our hearts, on our souls.
“We live in a country that forever tries to chip away at what you have enabled, at what you have been privileged enough to feel your entire life. I should not be the loudest voice in the room. No woman should be the loudest voice in the room.”
Megan Rapinoe, speaking just now, to men:
(she’s right) pic.twitter.com/T6qMLbKeVM
— Henry Bushnell (@HenryBushnell) June 24, 2022
Rapinoe, A Ballon d’Or winner and two-time world champion with the USWNT, had never shied away from using her platform to speak out about social and human rights issues.
Her stance on the abortion ruling sees her join a number of high-profile figures from the sporting world and beyond to criticise the Supreme Court’s decision.
Related links:
- Megan Rapinoe voices support for transgender athletes following ‘monstrous’ women’s swimming ban
- ‘F*** the Supreme Court!’: Glastonbury stars blast US abortion ruling
- Lizzo pledges $1 million for abortion organisation Planned Parenthood
