FLAGSTAFF, Ariz. — Less than a week after the Arizona Supreme Court voted to uphold a Civil War-era abortion ban, Planned Parenthood Arizona announced that it would resume medication abortion services at the Flagstaff Health Center.
Planned Parenthood halted services in the Flagstaff area in June 2022 after the U.S. Supreme Court's Dobbs decision sparked nationwide uncertainty about the legality of abortions. The organization specified that the decision to resume was in response to the Arizona court's recent ruling.
Medication abortion appointments can now be booked at Planned Parenthood Arizona’s Flagstaff Health Center by calling 602-277-7526.
"We know that it is now more important than ever to provide care to as many patients as we can, while abortion is still legal in Arizona, and we are swiftly expanding our services to meet the increasing needs of our community. We will not be intimidated or silenced by anti-abortion extremists, because we know the overwhelming majority of Arizonans support the right to abortion. We will continue to use every avenue to fight for a future where all Arizonans can make decisions about our lives, our bodies, and our futures," Planned Parenthood Arizona President and CEO Angela Florez said in a press release on Monday.
The justices argued that the old, pre-statehood law could stand because the "legislature has demonstrated its consistent design to restrict elective abortion to the degree permitted by the Supremacy Clause and an unwavering intent since 1864 to proscribe elective abortions absent a federal constitutional right."
The ruling only permits abortions in cases that would save the mother's life and does not allow exceptions for cases of rape or incest.
The justices allowed for 14 days to pass before the near-total abortion ban could be enforced.
Gov. Katie Hobbs called upon the Republican-controlled Legislature to repeal the 1864 abortion law before it takes effect again in Arizona.
Planned Parenthood said that they plan to continue providing abortion care until "the last possible legal moment."
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