Kamala Harris declares 'health crisis' in historic visit to abortion clinic in Minnesota

ST. PAUL, Minn. ― Vice President Kamala Harris made a historic visit to an abortion clinic in the Twin Cities Thursday, demanding "we have to be a nation that trusts women" and declaring that access to reproductive medical care has spiraled into a "health crisis."

The visit to the Planned Parenthood facility ? the first ever by a president or vice president to a clinic that provides abortion services ? marked the most dramatic push by President Joe Biden's reelection campaign to make access to abortion a defining issue in the 2024 election.

Harris, the nation's first female vice president, has become the White House's leading voice on restoring abortion rights after the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade in 2022, ending a 50-year constitutional right to an abortion and prompting several Republican-led states to pass laws limiting abortion access.

"In this environment, these attacks against an individual's right to make decisions about their own body are outrageous and, in many instances, just plain old immoral. How dare these elected leaders believe they are in a better position to tell women what they need, to tell women what is in their best interest?" Harris said.

The trip was the final stop of Harris' “Fight for Reproductive Freedoms” tour, which launched in January and included previous visits to Wisconsin, California, Georgia, Michigan and Arizona.

More: Vice President Kamala Harris to make historic visit to abortion clinic in Minnesota

Minnesota, which offers broad access to abortion procedures, has become a safe haven for individuals from other states that have passed bans on abortion over the nearly two years since Roe was overturned.

"Many of you have asked why am I here at this facility," Harris said after touring the St. Paul Health Center - Vandalia, which remained open to patients during her visit. "It is because right now in our country we are facing a very serious health crisis, and the crisis is affecting many, many people in our country, most of whom are frankly silently suffering."

The Biden campaign has set out to relentlessly remind women voters that it was former President Donald Trump's three Supreme Court appointments who led to Roe's dismantling.

Trump, the presumptive Republican presidential nominee, said in a Fox News town hall in January that he's "proud to have done it" when asked about the court's overturning of Roe v. Wade. Trump later added that he supports exceptions for rape, incest and life of the mother.

"Let us all recognize who is to blame," Harris said, singling out Trump during a campaign rally elsewhere in St. Paul after leaving the clinic. "He intended for them to take away your freedoms. And it is a decision he brags about.”

Harris was joined at the abortion clinic by Minnesota's Democratic governor, Tim Walz, and U.S. Rep. Betty McCollum, D-Minn.

Walz signed legislation last year codifying the "fundamental right" to an abortion in the state and repealing the state’s 24-hour waiting period before an abortion.

"When we talk about clinics such as this, it is absolutely about health care and reproductive health care," Harris said. "So, everyone get ready for the language. Uterus ? that part of the body needs a lot of medical care from time to time. Issues like fibroids. We can handle this. Breast cancer screenings. Contraceptive care. That is the kind of work that happens here ? in addition, of course, to abortion care."

Harris slammed other states for passing laws that "caused clinics like this to shut down," which she said denied women "vital care" within any reasonable distance. She spoke in front of a large map showing Planned Parenthood clinics in the organization’s five-state North Central region.

Sixteen pink dots noted the presence of clinics in Minnesota, where Walz and the Democratic-controlled state legislature moved to protect abortion access. But Minnesota’s neighbors are barren in comparison, with just four clinics distributed across North Dakota, South Dakota and Nebraska. Only one provides abortions, according to the organization’s website.

"Since Roe was overturned, I've cared for patients from everywhere ? from nearby states like South Dakota and North Dakota and Wisconsin, but from faraway states like Texas, Alabama, Wyoming, Florida, Oklahoma, Missouri, and the list goes on," said Sarah Traxler, chief medical officer for Planned Parenthood North Central States.

Traxler said the St. Paul abortion clinic has seen a 25% increase in abortions since the Dobbs v. Jackson Women's Health Organization decision that overturned Roe. Out-of-state patients have doubled, she said.

"Traveling to access essential health care can be intimidating and overwhelming. It is not an easy thing to do as we have all pretended that it is," Traxler said.

While Biden struggles to convince Americans of an improving economy, according to polls, abortion rights has proven to be a winning issue for Democrats in elections held since 2022.

“Clearly those bragging about overturning Roe v. Wade have no clue about the power of women in America,” Biden said in his State of the Union address last week. “But they found out when reproductive freedom was on the ballot and won in 2022, 2023, and we'll win again in 2024.”

More: Joe Biden boosts abortion, contraception access on Roe v. Wade anniversary

Over the course of the decades-long battle over abortion rights in the U.S., abortion clinics have at times been sites of violent protests and targets of bombings.

An hour before Harris was scheduled to speak, about two dozen protesters gathered outside the St. Paul Planned Parenthood, holding signs with slogans such as, “life is a human right, “they’re killing babies here,” and “the real war on women.” A heavy police and Secret Service presence surrounded the building in anticipation of the vice president’s arrival.

Diana Halsey, a 70-year-old Minneapolis resident was among those hoisting signs with anti-abortion slogans. She said she stops by the clinic about once a week to pray that the women coming and going “get the help they need.”

She was surprised to learn that Harris would also be dropping by Thursday and hurried to find a bigger display. As Harris drove by, Halsey’s large “Life is a human right” sign was on immediate display. “It's sad,” she said of Harris’ visit. “I really feel bad about our medical community — that they are not supporting."

Paige Robinson, a 22-year-old University of Minnesota student, was among a handful of supporters who gathered outside the clinic Thursday, intermingling with the protesters, trying to catch a glimpse of the vice president as her motorcade exited the building.

“I think it's very cool,” Robinson, a Democrat, said of Harris’ visit. “I know that this is the first time she's ever done it — the first time anyone has ever done something at an abortion clinic, which I think is very neat.

"And I think it's very cool that it's Minnesota especially, because Minnesota has a pretty good track record. It's nice to see such clear support of our pro-woman policies," Robinson said.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Kamala Harris declares 'health crisis' in visit to abortion clinic