U.S. Senator Ron Wyden vows to protect women's reproductive rights in light of the upcoming Supreme Court vacancy. He spoke Monday at a Planned Parenthood news conference in Eugene.
Around 25 people gathered on the Wayne Morse courthouse steps in bright pink shirts to show support for Planned Parenthood. Wyden addressed concerns about a possible overturning of Roe V. Wade, the 1973 court decision legalizing abortion.
President Donald Trump has previously pledged he will appoint pro-life justices.
Senator Wyden says he’ll do whatever he can to keep the government from turning back the clock on women’s healthcare.
"This is the ultimate assault on freedom for women," Wyden says, "And anyone who has a mom or grandmother understands what it was like when abortion was illegal."
Wyden also says his position on the Senate Finance Committee will allow him to represent women's rights regardless of the Supreme Court appointment:
"We have jurisdiction over the medicaid program, and that's why I've taken as my moto, 'you want to assault healthcare for women, you are going to have to run over the Senate Finance Committee. You are gonna have to run over me.' And I'm telling you, women are going to win that fight."
Eugene is the senator’s fourth stop on the first amendment tour, and Wyden will be speaking on the importance of the right to assembly, speech and press this week throughout the state of Oregon.