Press Release - Vice President Kamala Harris Kicks Off Nationwide "Fight for Reproductive Freedoms" Tour in Wisconsin With Speech Marking 51 Years Since Roe v. Wade Decision

While in Waukesha County, the Vice President called out extremists for proposing a national abortion ban, called on Congress to restore the protections of Roe v. Wade, and urged a crowd of more than 500 to continue the fight to protect fundamental freedoms.

BIG BEND, WI – Vice President Kamala Harris kicked off her nationwide "Fight for Reproductive Freedoms" tour with a speech in Waukesha County, WI today – exactly 51 years after Roe v. Wade was decided. During her remarks, she highlighted the harm caused by extreme abortion bans, shared stories of those who have been impacted, and outlined steps the Biden-Harris Administration is taking to protect access to health care. The Vice President also called out extremists for proposing a national abortion ban, called on Congress to restore the protections of Roe v. Wade, and urged the crowd of more than 500 attendees to stay engaged in the fight for fundamental freedoms across America.

"In the last 19 months, in states across our nation, extremists have proposed and passed laws that criminalize doctors and punish women – laws that in some states threaten doctors and nurses with prison time even for life simply for providing health care, laws that in some states make no exception even for rape and incest," said Vice President Harris.

Here are four key moments from today's kick off to the "Fight for Reproductive Freedoms" tour:

Vice President Harris called out extremists across the country for proposing a national abortion ban:
"In the United States Congress, extremists are trying to pass a national abortion ban to outlaw abortion in every single state," said Vice President Harris. "But what they need to know is that if Congress passes a national abortion ban, President Joe Biden will veto it. Because here's the deal about all of us: we trust women. We trust women to make decisions about their own bodies, we trust women to know what is in their own best interest, and women trust us to fight to protect their most fundamental freedoms."

Vice President Harris connected the dots on who is responsible for this chaos, confusion, and harm:
"As we face this crisis, as we are clear eyed about the harm, let us also understand who is responsible. Shall we? The former president hand-picked three Supreme Court Justices because he intended for them to overturn Roe. He intended for them to take your freedoms, and it is a decision he brags about," said Vice President Harris. "He said 'I did it, and I'm proud to have done it.' Proud? Proud? Proud that women across our nation are suffering? Proud that women have been robbed of a fundamental freedom? Proud that doctors could be thrown in prison for caring for their patients? That young women today have fewer rights than their mothers and grandmothers? How dare he."

Vice President Harris shared the story of what happened in Wisconsin:
"These extremists want to roll back the clock to a time before women were treated as full citizens –Wisconsin to the 1800s," said Vice President Harris. "Just look at what happened here...After Roe was dismantled, extremists evoked a law from 1849 to stop abortion in this state. 1849: before women could vote, before women could hold elected office, before many women could even own property. In a state whose motto is 'Forward,' these extremists are trying to take us backward. But we're not having that."

Vice President Harris highlighted the work and success of advocates and organizers who have fought back to protect reproductive rights:
"Since Roe was overturned, every time reproductive freedom has been on the ballot, the people of America have voted for freedom – from Kansas to California to Kentucky; in Michigan, Montana, Vermont, and Ohio. The people of America have voted for freedom, and not by a little, by overwhelming margins," said Vice President Harris. "Tens of millions of Americans — in red states and blue, including here in Wisconsin — marched to the polls in defense of fundamental freedoms."

The Vice President's nationwide "Fight for Reproductive Freedoms" tour will bring together thousands of people to fight for the freedom of every American to make decisions about their own body. She will visit states that have experienced chaos and confusion after Roe was overturned, states where a woman's right choose is being protected, and states with abortion bans that are threatening women's health. Since the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade, Vice President Harris has held more than 60 convenings in 20 states while bringing together hundreds of state legislators, state attorneys general, health care providers, faith leaders, students, and advocates who are on the frontlines of the fight for reproductive freedom.

This tour is a continuation of her leadership in the fight to protect fundamental freedoms throughout the country. Last year, the Vice President embarked on a "Fight for Our Freedoms" college tour in which she traveled to eight states, mobilized more than 15,000 students, and took questions directly from young leaders on a range of issues including reproductive freedom.