Violence, protests, and unhinged uproar. That is what Washington, D.C., has been consumed with ever since the illegally leaked Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization opinion came to light. Pro-abortion activists have taken to the streets and to the neighborhoods of Supreme Court justices to try and intimidate them and keep the monstrous Roe v. Wade law on the books. Now that the Dobbs decision has been made public and the overturning of Roe is complete, we need to think about the aftermath and where that leaves the pro-life movement in a post-Roe America.
I see two possible routes for the fight for life after Dobbs. We will either take the win and move on, or we will understand that the real fight lies ahead. We cannot be complacent with Roe being overturned because, despite what the radical activists are saying, abortion is still legal in this country. So that means the challenge moves to states.
In my home state of Michigan, a judge recently threw out an anti-abortion law in anticipation of the Dobbs ruling. So Michigan has a big fight ahead to ensure innocent babies cannot be murdered at will. The sad reality is that my state is not unlike others, where abortion is rampant and widespread. California, Colorado, Oregon, and others have gone so far as to designate themselves as “abortion sanctuary” states. That is the kind of lunacy we are up against.
But this all only invites the question of what to do now. We need to respond to the Dobbs ruling with compassion. That means taking the win but not doing a victory lap. It means trying to bring more people into the pro-life movement by showing them the science and demonstrating our passion and love for life. And above all, it means enhancing our ability to take care of pregnant mothers and newborn babies.
Through a compassionate approach, we can make a difference and protect the lives of the unborn. We do not have to scream and shout like the protesters in front of the Supreme Court or break the law by intimidating justices at their private homes. The pro-life movement is above that, and now is the time to show it. So while our prayers have been answered and Roe has been overturned, we must prepare for the fight ahead.
Lisa McClain represents Michigan’s 10thCongressional District in the House of Representatives.
