Attorney General Holly Shikada (D-HI) is among a national coalition of 22 attorneys general who issued a statement reaffirming their commitment to supporting and expanding access to abortion care.
Access to a safe and legal abortion remains protected in some states, including Hawaii, despite the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision in Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization. The coalition of attorneys general vows to support pregnant women and girls throughout the nation.
“The Supreme Court’s decision is not the end of this fight,” Shikada said, according to Gov. David Ige’s (D-HI) website. “Abortion care remains protected under Hawaii law, and we will continue to preserve and strengthen access to reproductive health care — not only for our own citizens but for those across the nation facing the immediate and devastating effects of this decision.”
The coalition issued a joint statement equating abortion care to health care.
“We stand together, as our states’ chief law officers, to proudly say that we will not back down in the fight to protect the rights of pregnant people in our states and across the country,” the joint statement reads. “While the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision reverses nearly half a century of legal precedent and undermines the rights of people across the United States, we’re joining together to reaffirm our commitment to supporting and expanding access to abortion care nationwide. Ultimately, what harms people in some states harms us all. The future and well-being of our nation is intrinsically tied to the ability of our residents to exercise their fundamental rights, including the right to liberty, privacy and access to abortion care. If you seek access to abortion and reproductive health care, we’re committed to using the full force of the law to support you. You have our word. We will continue to use all legal tools at our disposal to fight for your rights and stand up for our laws. We will support our partners and service providers. Together, we will persist.”
Shikada joined attorneys general from California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, the District of Columbia, Illinois, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont and Washington in supporting continued access to safe and legal abortions.