Roe v. Wade anniversary, locals reflect on the changes made in the past year

It's been one year since the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade and on June 30 North Carolina's new 12 week abortion ban goes into effect.

In the past year more states have enacted abortion bans, others have voted to protect abortions in their constitution and fewer women have had abortions.

Many people in the area are expressing how the political and health landscapes have changed in the past year.

"Abortion access has been decimated across the south, including in this region," said Molly Rivera, planned parenthood.

In the past year 20 states have banned or severely restricted abortion and Rivera says this is only the tip of the iceberg.

"We have not seen the worst yet, the ripple effects," said Rivera.

The Kaiser Family Foundation released a survey of OBGYNs about the impact of the Dobbs ruling.

• 68 percent of OBGYNs say Dobbs has made the management of pregnancy-related medical emergencies worse.
• 64 percent say the ruling has worsened pregnancy-related mortality.
• 70% say Dobbs has widened the gap between racial and ethnic inequities in maternal healthcare.

Black women are already three times as likely to die during pregnancy compared to women of other races.

In the first six months post-Dobbs there were more than 32,000 fewer abortions nationwide.

Fitzgerald who is the Executive Director of the North Carolina Values Coalition says more lives were saved.

"That means more babies lives were saved," said Fitzgerald.

North Carolina saw a 37 % increase in abortions after Dobbs but the new 12 week ban goes into effect July first.

Dobbs has also changed the political landscape with abortion becoming an election issue.

"The ripple effects will continue in the weeks and months ahead and if ant-abortion lawmakers get their way there will be more to come," said Rivera.

Fitzgerald. says they will continue trying to help get people elected to office who are pro-life and will advance pro-life policy in NC.