CA Gears Up For Wave Of Abortion Seekers: 'CA Stands With Women'

CALIFORNIA — California leaders responded with vitriol to news that the U.S. Supreme Court was poised to roll back landmark abortion protections. Here's what you need to know.

1. The Draft Of The Potential Summer Ruling Was Leaked

Politico on Monday night published a leaked draft ruling of a proposed majority opinion of the high court's justices in the 1992 Planned Parenthood v. Casey case that would overturn Roe. v. Wade, the landmark 1973 decision that established a constitutional right to abortion.

Striking down Roe v. Wade would allow individual states to set limits on abortion.

"We hold that 'Roe' and 'Casey' must be overruled," the document said, according to Politico. "It is time to heed the Constitution and return the issue of abortion to the people's elected representatives."

The ruling by Justice Samuel Alito was only a draft and could change dramatically or even fundamentally before it is published and finalized this summer, Politico reported. Chief Justice John Roberts confirmed the document's authenticity Tuesday.

2. California Leaders Reacted With Fervor

"California will not sit back. We are going to fight like hell," Gov. Gavin Newsom tweeted after the report came out.

READ MORE: 'Devastating': Local Leaders React To Possible Overturn Of Roe V. Wade

Hours after Politico's report, Newsom and other Democratic leaders unveiled a plan to introduce an amendment "to enshrine the right to choose in our state constitution so that there is no doubt as to the right to abortion in this state."

"We know we can’t trust the Supreme Court to protect reproductive rights, so California will build a firewall around this right in our state constitution. Women will remain protected here," said Senate President Pro Tempore Toni G. Atkins (D-San Diego), Assembly Speaker Anthony Rendon (D-Lakewood) and Newsom in a joint statement.

The news triggered a rapid fire of commentary and concern from California's Democratic elected leaders.

"It's time for Congress to get off the sidelines," Sen. Alex Padilla (D-California) tweeted in response to the report. "We must protect the fundamental right to choose."

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3. The Golden State Will Welcome Out-Of-State Abortion Seekers

Newsom previously declared that California would be a safe haven for women seeking abortions or other reproductive health care, regardless of which state they called home.

Cities across the state were already preparing for and discussing the possibility that abortion rights would be struck down this summer.

Los Angeles City Council President Nury Martinez introduced a motion Friday to prepare the city for a possible influx of people from other states.

"A woman's right to an abortion is crucial to our fight for equality in America," Martinez said. ``We cannot ask women to risk their lives by revoking their right to a safe medical procedure. I stand with women, California stands with women, and Friday, our city has reaffirmed that Los Angeles stands with and for women."

In Santa Clara County, officials sought approval for a $3 million donation to Planned Parenthood in response to an influx of out-of-state abortion patients.

"We know abortion rights are more fragile than they've been in decades in this country," said Santa Clara County Supervisor Cindy Chavez, KRON 4 reported.

If the decision to overturn abortion protections stands, "26 states are poised to ban abortion, leaving more than 36 million women of reproductive age — and other people who can become pregnant — without abortion access," Planned Parenthood said in a statement Monday night.

4. Some 36 Million Women Could Be Left Without Abortion Access

Planned Parenthood's statement added: "Though the decision is not yet final and abortion remains legal, if this decision issues, 26 states are poised to move quickly to ban abortion, leaving more than 36 million women of reproductive age — and other people who can become pregnant — without abortion access."

About half of U.S. states are already expected to ban abortion if Roe falls, according to the abortion-rights think tank Guttmacher Institute. Twenty-two states, largely in the South and Midwest, already have total or near-total bans on the books. Aside from Texas, all are now blocked in court because of Roe.

Thirteen states have so-called trigger laws that would immediately ban abortion if Roe is overturned and would presumably go into effect if the Supreme Court majority so rules in late June or early July.

"Since July 2021 to today Planned Parenthood has already provided services for 80 out of state women, and many more are anticipated in California because they can get health services here, and I want to remind everybody, these are health services,” Chavez said.

California's Planned Parenthood Mar Monte, the largest Planned Parenthood affiliate in the nation, has served abortion seekers from Alabama, Arizona, Florida, Louisiana, Arkansas, Georgia and Texas.

5. The News Mobilized Golden State Activists

The outrage triggered a groundswell of local activism, with protests planned in downtown San Francisco, the Conejo Valley and Los Angeles.

Women's March called on supporters to rally Tuesday in front of local federal courthouses and town halls across the nation.

A planned rally in downtown Los Angeles to support abortion rights has gained a new sense of urgency with the news that the U.S. Supreme Court might be poised to overturn the landmark abortion-rights decision Roe v. Wade.

The Women's March Foundation had already planned its May 14 "Bans Off Our Bodies Rally" outside City Hall before news broke Monday that Politico obtained what it called a draft opinion written by Justice Alito that indicates the court privately voted to strike down Roe v. Wade.

Women will gather outside City Hall, at 200 N. Spring St., at 10 a.m. that day, according to organizers. Further details about the march, and whether it would include a speaking program, were not immediately released.

City News Service and The Associated Press contributed to this report.