'Inequality' Of Women's Rights Newest Front For Voting League

SHREWSBURY, NJ — Aug. 26 is usually celebrated as Women’s Equality Day by the Monmouth County League of Women Voters. This recognizes the anniversary of the certification of the 19th Amendment, giving women the right to vote and affording equal representation and the full rights and privileges as citizens of the United States.

But not this year, says the league.

Instead, the league is marking Aug. 26 as Women’s (In)Equality Day, recognizing that "we are in a moment where women have fewer rights than they've had in decades. We are calling on lawmakers to take action to restore and protect our rights," the three co-presidents of the newly consolidated - and energized - league have said in a joint statement.

"The Supreme Court decision overturning the constitutional right to abortion as recognized for nearly 50 years will have a harmful impact on all people who may become pregnant. We are concerned this will exacerbate societal inequalities and fall disproportionately on people of color and low-income communities already facing obstacles to healthcare," the league said is a news release from Barbara Chaudhery, Evelyn C. Murphy and Sharon Steinhorn, co-presidents of the League of Women Voters of Monmouth County.

"We need to ensure that everyone can access the healthcare they need and that women make decisions about their healthcare - not legislators," Murphy added.

The league "urges the passage of the Reproductive Equity Act (A4350/S2918) now. This act addresses gaps in access by mandating insurance plans in New Jersey cover abortion and birth control with no cost-sharing or out-of-pocket," they said.

The bills were each introduced in late June in their respective chambers and referred to the New Jersey Assembly Health Committee and the Senate Health, Human Services and Senior Citizens Committee, according to the New Jersey Office of Legislative Services. Area state Sen. Vin Gopal, D-Monmouth, was one of the sponsors in this area of the Senate version.

The act also protects people seeking and providing abortions in New Jersey from extremist violence and the aggressive overreach of anti-abortion states. "This commonsense legislation will impact the lives of many and we must not wait to move it forward," they said.

They urged citizens to contact state legislators and urge them to support "strong and equitable access to reproductive healthcare for all," the statement said.