North Shore Roe V. Wade Reaction: 'Stunning And Surreal'

SALEM, MA — Reaction was swift and stark from North Shore officials following the Supreme Court's ruling Friday that effectively struck down a women's right to an abortion nationwide.

Even though the Bay State is one of 14 states, plus the District of Columbia, with laws in place protecting the right to an abortion, the overturning of Roe vs. Wade had a chilling effect for many across the North Shore with officials vowing to fight for strong reproductive rights statewide in the wake of the decision.

"There is no right more fundamental than the right to control your own body," said Salem Mayor Kim Driscoll, a leading candidate for the Democratic nomination for lieutenant governor. "Millions are now less safe, less free to exercise that right. Grateful the Legislature ensured abortion rights will be protected and accessible here but now is the time to fight, more than ever."

(Also on Patch: Roe V. Wade Overturned: What Happens Now In MA?)

Gov. Charlie Baker signed an executive order aimed to protect reproductive rights across the state for both Massachusetts residents and those who come to the state for health care.

"This executive order will further preserve that right and protect reproductive health care providers who serve out-of-state residents," Baker said in a statement. "In light of the Supreme Court's ruling overturning Roe v Wade, it is especially important Massachusetts providers can provide reproductive health care services without concern that laws of other states may be used to interfere with those services or sanction them for providing services that are lawful in the commonwealth."

Under the order, Massachusetts will not cooperate with extradition requests from other states pursuing criminal charges against individuals who received, assisted with, or performed reproductive health services that are legal in Massachusetts.

"We expected this but it's still stunning and surreal," State Rep. Sally Kerans (D-Danvers) said. "Grateful to (the state) Legislature for codifying Row in (Massachusetts) in 2020.

"We'll fight to protect providers and access to women's health care."

(Also on Patch: Protestors Gather After Supreme Court Strikes Down Roe V. Wade)

Mass General Brigham, which runs Salem Hospital, and Beth Isreal Lahey Health, which runs Beverly Hospital, issued similar statements saying they will continue to provide what Beth Isreal said were "the full range of reproductive services to all who need them."

U.S. Rep. Seth Moulton (D-Salem) condemned the decision from what he called the "newly-politicized Supreme Court" and charged that "women's health care has been made instantaneously worse."

"Thankfully, abortion is legal in Massachusetts and we will fight to keep it that way," Moulton said. "But make no mistake that this basic right to privacy, to personal freedom, to safety and self-protection will be under assault everywhere in America.

"The irony that brave young Americans risk their lives to fight for freedom around the world, while the Supreme Court is risking women’s lives by taking away their freedoms at home, should not be lost on anyone."

"This is a dark day in American history."

(Scott Souza is a Patch field editor covering Beverly, Danvers, Marblehead, Peabody, Salem and Swampscott. He can be reached at Scott.Souza@Patch.com. Twitter: @Scott_Souza.)