ACLU Comment on Imminent Closure of Missouri's Last Abortion Clinic

Planned Parenthood of the St. Louis Region and Southwest Missouri — the last abortion clinic standing in the state of Missouri — announced today that absent court action, it will be forced to stop providing abortion care on May 31.

Since 2011, states have passed more than 400 restrictions designed to shut down abortion clinics across the country. And now, Missouri becomes the first state in the United States without a single abortion provider. Five other states — Kentucky, Mississippi, North Dakota, South Dakota, and West Virginia — only have one abortion clinic left.

Jennifer Dalven, Director of the ACLU Reproductive Freedom Project, released the following statement in response:

“What is happening in Missouri shows that politicians don’t have to outlaw abortion to push it out of reach entirely. This week, Missouri may become the first state without a health center that provides abortion, even without the courts having to say they are overturning Roe v. Wade. This is a direct result of a years-long effort by anti-abortion politicians to pass medically unnecessary restrictions that burden providers with the goal of forcing them to shut down. This has been their end game for years, but it’s contrary to what the overwhelming majority of people in this country want. The ACLU and its 3 million members will be taking to the streets, educating voters, and going to court to protect access to abortion for all.”