Natalie Manley Finally Reacts To Roe V. Wade Court Decision

JOLIET, IL — On Friday, a flurry of elected officials across Illinois announced their reaction to the U.S. Supreme Court's decision to overturn Roe V. Wade. The Office of State Representative Natalie Manley waited until Monday afternoon to issue a statement.

A Joliet Democrat, Manley also faces a challenge in Tuesday's Democratic primary race from Barry Haywood.

“The U.S. Supreme Court’s decision to overturn Roe v. Wade and subsequently end women’s right to bodily autonomy is the greatest attack on reproductive rights we’ve seen in decades," Manley's press statement from Monday announced. "Women and all pregnant people deserve the right to make their own health care decisions free of government interference, no matter what extremist judges decide.

“In Illinois, we stand up for women’s rights, including their right to decide what happens to their body and health. In 2017, I voted to remove trigger provisions in our state laws that could have made abortion illegal in Illinois if Roe v. Wade was overturned. But our work cannot end there."

Since taking office in 2013, State Rep. Manley has represented the voters across the 98th District. District 98 includes Joliet, Crest Hill, unincorporated Crystal Lawns, plus Bolingbrook, Romeoville and Shorewood. There are several townships within the 98th District of the state house: Joliet, Lockport, Wheatland, Troy, DuPage and Plainfield.

“I fully support Gov. Pritzker’s call for a special session to further strengthen reproductive rights and protections in Illinois," Manley said in Monday's statement. "We must use our anger, sorrow and fear surrounding this reckless ruling to take concrete actions to support women and all people who can become pregnant.

“The Supreme Court may have decided to set the clock back fifty years, but make no mistake — Illinois will not go back. I will always support a woman’s right to choose and I will use the full weight of my position to ensure Illinois does not roll back reproductive rights.”

According to the Illinois Sunshine political contributions' database, the Friends of Manley campaign committee now has $786,936. Of that total, $156,649 has been raised since March 31. On June 6, Friends of Manley received a $55,000 contribution from JB For Governor.