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Remarks by Vice President Harris at a Political Event on Reproductive Rights (1478words)

April 25, 2023

Glossary

1.    the United States Supreme Court : 미국 대법원

2.    Thurgood’s court : 미국 대법원

3.    the Dobbs decision : 도브스 판결

4.    the FDA : 식약처

You know, when you think about the fact that on this issue of a woman’s right — a person’s right to make decisions about their own body and how that right is under attack, it is a tragedy. When we think about the role of the United States Supreme Court and all that is supposed to be, and yet, in our recent memory, the highest court of our land — Thurgood’s court — took a constitutional right that had been recognized from the people of America, from the women of America.

Fundamental freedoms are under attack in our country today.  And it is the tradition of this university and, dare I say, the tradition of our country to fight for freedom, to fight for rights, to fight for the ability of all people to be who they are and make decisions about their own lives and their bodies. 

This is the moment we’re in.

And think about what happened after the highest court in our land did what it did.  Think about what happened.

I see you guys.

Think about what happened.  So the highest court in the land took a constitutional, and then so-called leaders — extremist so-called leaders started proposing and passing laws that would criminalize healthcare providers.

Literally laws that provide for jail time for doctors and nurses and people who took an oath to do the work of taking care of other people in the best interest of what is right for them in their lives.  They started proposing and passing laws.

Now, we got to speak truth, and sometimes it’s difficult to hear, but I’m going to — we got to talk truth.

They started proposing and passing laws that would make no exception, even for rape and incest.  Now, y’all know I — I used — this was my specialty when I handled these cases as a prosecutor — was to work to protect in particular women and children.

And here’s the thing about it, when we are talking about these so-called leaders passing these kinds of laws: We’re talking about them proposing and passing laws that say, “Well, after you have survived an act of violence and violation to your body, we are then going to say to you that when it comes time for you to make a decision about what happens next to your body, we’re not going to let you make that for yourself.”

Immoral, outrageous that people who dare to walk around expecting you to respect them and elect them would do these kinds of things to other human beings and strip them of their right and entitlement to dignity and autonomy and, something we learn at this school, about self-determination.

This is what’s happening in our country right now.  It’s happening before our very eyes.  What’s happening in our country right now is that these extremist so-called leaders would dare to tell us what is in our own best interests.  Well, I say: I trust the women of America.  I trust the people of America to make decisions about their selves. I trust them.

And so, don’t get in our way, because if you do, we’re going to stand up and we’re going to organize and we’re going to speak up and we’re going to say, “We’re not having that.  We not playing that!” 

And I want to be clear about something: These extremist so-called leaders — check out what they’re doing; they’re also saying they’re going to ban abortion six weeks into a pregnancy.  Well, clearly, most of them don’t even know how a woman’s body works because most women don’t even know they’re pregnant at that stage of a pregnancy.

They’re saying that they’re going to make no exceptions, they’re going to criminalize.  And you’ve heard the horrendous stories.  You know, the details — I ask you to know what’s happening.  I’m not going to talk about all the details of what’s been happening to people in America since the Dobbs decision came down, but I’m going to tell you there’s a lot of private suffering.  There’s a lot of private suffering that’s been happening.

And we’re not going to hear the stories on the news.  We’re not going to see stories and people telling them with the frequency that they’re occurring on TikTok.  We’re not.  But it’s real.

And one of the things I would say to all the young leaders here in particular that I know about you — one of the things about real leaders is you have empathy.  You have empathy.  And you understand that the true sign of a leader, the measure of a leader is not based on who you beat down and belittle; it is based and measured on who you lift up. 

And that’s what these extremists lack — is the strength to have the courage to understand that real leaders care about the people and their dignity and their autonomy and their right to determine what is in their own best interest.

So this is where we are.  This is where we are.

And recently — so, these politicians then started saying, “Well, we’re going to hire some lawyers.”  And then these lawyers said, “Well, we’re going to start looking around the country for where there are judges that were appointed by that last guy.”  It’s called “forum shopping.”

And so they went down to Texas, and they filed this lawsuit that basically has a bunch of politicians motivating a bunch of lawyers to forum shop and find a judge who will then undo a decision of the FDA.

Now, understand the FDA has been in existence for — and making decisions for over 80 years about what is safe and effective medication, especially when prescribed by a doctor.  They go through the process of making that decision after they test it, after they go through peer review and scientific study and medical eval‎uation.  And then they determine, “Okay, this is safe for the American public to use and effective.”  That’s how the system works.  And that’s the system these people are trying to undo.

They’re trying to say that a lawyer and a politician is in a better position than a doctor to determine what is safe and effective for your use as prescribed by a physician.

And when I’m talking about this around the country and looking at some of these so-called leaders, I’m saying, “Okay, now I want you to understand the implications of what you’re saying.  Open your medicine cabinet, in the privacy of your bathroom, in the privacy of your home.  I wonder what’s sitting up in there.  And whether, if it was up to a political attack, you would be so comfortable with what you’re doing right now.” “You don’t want me getting in your business, do you?”

That’s what’s happening in our country.

And, you know, on this issue, I will say — it’s really important to point out: One does not have to abandon their faith or deeply held beliefs to agree the government should not be making this decision for her. 

And I’ll tell you — you know, I do believe that what is happening in the states — I really do believe that what is happening, that we’re seeing around the country, is part of an extremist plan to take this to a national agenda.  This is a plan that is an agenda about a national plan.

This is not just about the people of Florida, not just impacting the people of Florida.  That’s not the plan.  The plan isn’t just about the people of Texas and attacking their rights.  What we are witnessing, and be clear about this, is there is a national agenda that’s at play.  This is the national agenda.

What they did with mifepristone — by the way, understand, the Supreme Court, they just stayed it.  You know what that means?  That’s temporary.  That’s like, “Give us some time.  Maybe I’ll — too hot right now.  We’ll come back to that.”  That’s a stay; that’s temporary.

If they determine to stand by that Texas decision, it will in effect be a national ban on abortion.  Be clear: There is a national agenda at play by these extremist so-called leaders.

And understand, when you look at what they’re up to, their agenda is not only about attacking a woman’s right to make decisions about her own body.  This agenda includes attacking your very right and freedom to express your voice through your vote at the ballot box.  That’s part of this national agenda.

This national agenda includes these extremist so-called leaders proposing and passing laws that include making it illegal to literally give somebody food and water if they’ve been standing in line for hours just to vote