UPDATED: Beasley, Budd, and others weigh in with statements on overturning of Roe V. Wade

(WITN) - Reaction is flowing in after the U.S. Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade Friday morning. This list will be updated as we receive statements.

ACLU of North Carolina Executive Director Chantal Stevens:

“The ability to make decisions about one’s own body, health, and future is a fundamental human right and enshrined in our constitution. Today, the Supreme Court has made a decision that will eliminate that right for millions. The fight for Roe may be over, but the fight for our right to bodily autonomy will carry on. Abortion is still legal in North Carolina. Today, people can go to their appointments to receive safe, legal abortion care. In this critical time, providers will continue to work tirelessly to ensure that patients can access the care they need. North Carolina already has several laws that unreasonably restrict access to abortion, including a 72-hour waiting period, one of the longest in the country. Governor Cooper has successfully prevented further restrictions from going into effect, but we continue to face frequent and extreme attacks on our rights from state legislators. It is imperative that North Carolinians turn out to vote in November and elect lawmakers who will fight for our right to control our own bodies.”

Congressman Greg Murphy, (R) North Carolina

“Today is a momentous day for the pro-life movement. The Supreme Court, basing their decision on the 14th Amendment, has ruled that, ‘the Constitution does not confer a right to abortion.’ Roe v. Wade was errantly constructed, both as an assault on the unalienable right to life, as well as a gross violation of the 14th Amendment – overriding states’ rights in the name of federal overreach. The Supreme Court’s ruling is constitutionally valid, as the decision on abortion will now rightfully be returned to the American people and their elected representatives.”

Rep. Ted Budd, (R-NC) 13th District & U.S. Senate Candidate:

“Today’s ruling by the SUpreme Court is a historic victory for the millions of Americans who believe that every life is precious and deserves protection. And it is a victory for the millions of unborn children who may now realize the most fundamental of all human rights, the right to life. The Court’s ruling correctly empowers the people’s representatives in each state to decide how best to protect unborn lives. As a conscience-drive pro-life advocate, I will continue to support protections for unborn children everywhere.”

Cheri Beasley, (D) U.S. Senate Candidate

“As a former Chief Justice of the North Carolina Supreme Court, I want to be clear: Our Constitution grants Americans the right to make decisions about their health care free from government interference. Today, for the first time in our history, the Supreme Court took away an individual constitutional right. I join people across the country in anger and fear at this moment for what the Supreme Court’s decision will mean for women, American families, and health care providers. This wrong and dangerous decision that overturns nearly 50 years of precedent shows exactly what’s at stake in this election and I will not hesitate to stand up for Americans’ freedom to make our own decisions about our own families.”

Republican National Committee Chairwoman Ronna McDaniel

”Life wins! Millions of Americans are celebrating today’s ruling and a pro-life movement that has worked tirelessly for decades. For a half century unelected judges have dictated America’s abortion laws. This historic ruling rightfully returns power to the American people to enact laws that protect unborn children and support mothers everywhere. As this debate now returns to the states and the American people, we know there is still much work ahead. Republicans will continue to advocate for life, uphold the law, and stand against an extreme Democrat Party’s pro-abortion agenda.”

N.C. Attorney General Josh Stein:

“I have a message for the women of North Carolina: you still have a legal right to an abortion in our state. North Carolina state law protects women’s reproductive freedoms, even after the Supreme Court today stripped women of their right to an abortion under the Constitution by overturning Roe v. Wade. If we want to keep our freedoms under state law, then we have to elect state officials who commit to protecting them.”

Governor Roy Cooper:

“For 50 years, women have relied on their constitutional right to make their own medical decisions, but today that right has been tragically ripped away. That means it’s now up to the states to determine whether women get reproductive health care, and in North Carolina they still can. I will continue to trust women to make their own medical decisions as we fight to keep politicians out of the doctor’s exam room.”

U.S. Senator Thom Tillis - (R) North Carolina:

“This ruling is historic and monumental and affirms my belief that all life is sacred. Each state government and its duly elected representatives will now make the determination about the types of laws they wish to have in place. I, for one, will continue to advocate for commonsense measures that the broad majority of Americans support like protecting life at crucial points of development and prohibiting horrendous procedures like partial-birth and pain-capable abortions. This is a very emotional and sensitive issue for many Americans, and I urge calm and respect for the Court’s decision and hope people who have strong feelings on both sides will voice them peacefully.”

Congressman G.K. Butterfield - (D) North Carolina:

“Today is a sad day in American jurisprudence.”

North Carolina Democratic Party Chair Bobbie Richardson:

“Women have the right to make their own health care decisions without politicians getting in the way. This decision further emboldens Republicans to continue their harmful efforts to restrict reproductive rights, including U.S. Senate candidate Congressman Ted Budd who has made clear that he will ban abortion with no exceptions, not even for rape, incest, or to save the life of the mother. In 2022, it is critical that we elect Democrats who will stand up for our constitutional rights and who will focus on fighting for what North Carolinians need and want – not the agenda of extreme Washington politicians and corporate special interests.”

Rep. Brian Farkas, (D) Pitt County:

“Denying the right for women and their doctors to make informed health decisions is wrong,” said Rep. Farkas. “It’s not the government’s place to force itself into a deeply personal medical decision and tell someone what they can and cannot do. Each of us should be able to control what happens to our body and have the freedom to make personal choices that are best for our lives and unique set of circumstances.”

Rep. Farkas also spoke about the context of the decision as it relates to political polarization:

“The Supreme Court’s partisan behavior comes at a time when our country couldn’t be more polarized, and this decision only further divides us. Despite the fact that an overwhelming majority of Americans believe in the right of women to make their own health decisions, the Court went against public opinion and decades of precedent. Our Supreme Court must continue to take into consideration the will of the people as it has done for centuries if it wants to keep our society from becoming more bitterly divided by partisan politics and tribalism. With so many issues we need to rally together around and solve, this ruling could not come at a worse time.”