Could Rhode Island become an abortion ‘safe haven’ state?

"They are going to look to states like ours to access safe, legal abortion," says Gretchen Raffa of Planned Parenthood.

PROVIDENCE, R.I. (WLNE) — With the potential overturn of Roe v. Wade on the table in the Supreme Court, states like Rhode Island that passed the Reproductive Privacy Act back in 2019 may now become a safe haven for those seeking abortions in neighboring states.

“We’ve known for years that this was the risk of the Supreme Court being stacked with some additional folks,” said Liana Cassar, Rhode Island state representative.

This is the reason, she said, the state chose to codify the law guaranteeing protections of Roe v. Wade several years prior. Should the federal law be overturned, each state would be given the ability to make its own laws surrounding abortion.

“There are 26 states that are poised to swiftly ban abortion. That means that for the people that have the resources to travel out of state, they are going to look to states like ours to access safe, legal abortion,” said Gretchen Raffa, spokesperson for Planned Parenthood.

Organizations like Planned Parenthood say they are already focused on a state-by-state strategy to help fund costs of travel and services. According to the organization’s Providence Health Center, there were 2,624 abortion visits from June 30, 2020, to July 1, 2021.

“We are already seeing people and activists on the ground in states where abortion has been banned,” said Raffa.

It’s not a new idea. Back in 2013 after the passing of a law that closed nearly 75% of abortion clinics in Texas, several nonprofits sprouted to support funding transportation costs for those seeking to receive abortion services out of state.

While in New Hampshire abortions are restricted past 24 weeks, all six New England States have affirmed abortion will remain legal.

“For the folks that need it, abortion is healthcare. And the cost is an incredible barrier,” said Raffa.