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US soccer captain Megan Rapinoe is calling on American men to “stand up” to stop the “violent and consistent assault on the autonomy of women’s bodies” after the US Supreme Court ruled Friday to indict Roe v. pick up calf.
Ahead of Saturday’s friendly against Colombia, the emotional Rapinoe fought back tears and blamed the decision squarely on the American men and the US power structure.
“We clearly cannot do this alone with the composition of the power structure in our country,” she told reporters, as reported by Yahoo! Sports’ Henry Bushnell. “And frankly, that falls on you.”
She described the ruling as the US government’s attempt to propagate a belief structure “deeply rooted in white, racist, patriarchal Christianity.”
“I just can’t stress enough how sad and cruel this is,” she said. “I think the cruelty is the point because it’s not pro-life by any means.”

US soccer captain Megan Rapinoe is calling on American men to “stand up” to stop the “violent and consistent assault on the autonomy of women’s bodies” after the US Supreme Court ruled Friday to indict Roe v. to fall Wade

Abortion rights and abortion opponents before the US Supreme Court in Washington

Ahead of Saturday’s friendly against Colombia, the emotional Rapinoe fought back tears and blamed the decision squarely on the American men and the US power structure
The Supreme Court on Friday ruled Roe v. Wade, overturning the country’s 50-year-old constitutional protection of abortions. The decision is expected to result in a spate of abortion bans in conservative-leaning states, some of which already have trigger laws on the books that will go into effect in the coming days and weeks.
The 6-3 decision was made possible in part by former President Donald Trump’s SCOTUS appointees: Justices Neil Gorsuch, Brett Kavanaugh and Amy Coney Barrett.
According to Rapinoe, an outspoken advocate for women and LGBTQ groups, men in the US enjoy privileges while women bear the burden of this fight against abortion restrictions.
“I shouldn’t be the loudest voice in the room,” Rapinoe said. “No woman should be the loudest voice in the room. This is what ally looks like. Honestly, this is what doing the right thing looks like.
“Without men we wouldn’t have any of these laws, we wouldn’t have inequality around gender rights and this attack on abortion rights, none of this would happen,” she continued. “We didn’t do it ourselves. And I would take what I say personally, as an accusation, as an unto Jesus moment, as ‘look in the mirror, you are complicit in all of this’.

Tennis legend and longtime activist Billie Jean King also added her voice to the conversation

The OL Reign, Rapinoe’s NWSL team, released a statement criticizing the SCOTUS ruling
Rapinoe also stressed that this ruling will primarily affect women who were already at risk due to a number of factors.
“We know that poor women, black women, brown women, immigrants, women in abusive relationships, women who have been raped, women and girls who have been raped by family members who, you know what, may have just raped, are disproportionate strong will ‘not make the best choice,’ she said.

The WNBA’s Seattle Storm, a team that employs Rapnioe’s partner Sue Bird, also criticized the SCOTUS decision on Friday
“And that’s no reason to be forced into pregnancy,” she continued. “It’s going to totally exacerbate so many of the existing inequalities that we have in our country. It doesn’t hold a single person safer. It certainly doesn’t hold a single child more securely. And it doesn’t hold a single woman safer. We know that the lack of abortion [rights] It doesn’t stop people from having abortions, it stops people from having safe abortions.’
Rapinoe’s comments come days after she spoke out in favor of transgender women competing in women’s sports – a hot topic that critics say threatens the very existence of women’s athletics.
She was hardly the only athlete to face Roe v. Wade said.
The WNBA, where Rapinoe’s partner Sue Bird plays, also released a statement.
“This decision shows a branch of government that has so little contact with the country and any sense of human dignity,” the WNBA statement began. It went further to encourage Americans to vote.
“We need to recognize that voting is about electing officials and connecting the dots with policies and laws that align with our values.”

Several NBA players also chimed in, including Denver Nuggets guard Austin Rivers and Portland Trail Blazers forward Josh Hart, who apologized to “the women of this country.”

The NWSL released its own statement on Friday
Tennis legend and longtime activist Billie Jean King also added her voice to the conversation.
“The Supreme Court ruled Roe v. Downed Wade who has been protecting abortion rights for nearly 50 years,” she tweeted. “This decision will not end abortion. What will end it is safe and legal access to this vital medical procedure. It’s a sad day in the United States.”
Several NBA players also got involved, including Denver Nuggets guard Austin Rivers and Portland Trail Blazers forward Josh Hart.
“So what about the people who aren’t ready/qualified to be parents? … what a world awaits some of these kids,” Rivers posted on Twitter. ‘Smh sad day. Is America going backwards?’
Hart’s message was more succinct: “To the women of this country…I’m sorry.”
Philadelphia Phillies general manager Ruben Amaro Jr. called the decision “unilaterally unfair” and told all his supporters, upset by his comment, “to quit me if you want.”

Phillies general manager Ruben Amaro Jr. called the decision “unilaterally unfair”