More and more laws have been restricting and banning abortions across the U.S., here’s what’s happening and what you can do about it.
What happened in Alabama?
Tuesday, Alabama’s state senate passed a ban on abortion, making it a crime for doctors to perform the procedure, at any stage of pregnancy.
Doctors could face up to 99 years in prison for helping their patients terminate unwanted or unviable pregnancies.
This law was decided on by 25 white men, and passed by a vote of 25 vs 6. The 3 women on the state senate all voted against it. However, the law was written, and signed, by two women.
These senators refused to add exceptions for cases of rape or incest, by voting against democratic amendments. The text only allows an exception when the pregnant woman’s health is at serious risk. This gives women lesser rights than those of rapists or abusers, and makes the abortion ban the strictest in the US.
Wednesday, Alabama’s Republican governor, Kay Ivey, signed it into law.
This does not immediately outlaw the procedure (which is currently still legal). The measure would take effect in six months, if it passes.
These anti-abortion politicians want to overturn Roe v Wade, the landmark ruling that legalized abortion nationwide in 1973, by taking this ban to the supreme court. In other words, they’re working to make abortions illegal across the country. So, if you think this bill doesn’t concern you, IT DOES.
Alabama is one of 16 (Republican controlled) states to introduce or pass anti-abortion laws. This represents a growing push against women’s reproductive rights in the U.S., fuelled by right-wing, republican Christians, and made worse under Trump’s presidency.
What are we doing to stop this?
State senator Vivian Davis Figures fought hard against this bill. She told the male lawmakers: “You don’t have to raise that child. You don’t have to carry that child. You don’t have to do anything for that child, but you want to make the decision for that woman.” She proposed amendments to expand Medicaid, force legislators who voted for the measure to pay the state’s legal bills, or make it a crime for men to get vasectomies. All were rejected.
Pro-choice activists have promised to challenge the measure in court. The ACLU said it will file a lawsuit (with Planned Parenthood) “to stop this unconstitutional ban and protect every woman’s right to make her own choice about her healthcare, her body and her future.” The legal battle could stop the restrictions entirely, or at least delay them.
They also acted against the spread of fear and misinformation. Staci Fox, CEO of Planned Parenthood Southeast Advocates, stressed that abortion is currently still legal in all 50 states. And the ACLU of Alabamatweeted “PLEASE REMEMBER: This bill will not take effect anytime in the near future, and abortion will remain a safe, legal medical procedure at all clinics in Alabama.” Don’t forget to also share this message for people who might need to read it.
The Yellow Hammer Fund, which helps patients seeking care at one of Alabama’s 3 abortion clinics.
The Abortion Funds, which gives patients facing financial and logistical barriers access to safe abortions.
Emily’s list, which gets pro-choice Democratic women elected to office.
The Democratic Party, which pledged to “protect a woman’s right to safe and legal abortion".
Here are some more things you can do right now:
You can participate in the online donation campaignDemocrat senator Cory Booker created to help some of the organizations listed above to protect access to abortions.
You can check and share this Twitter thread to know which organizations help provide safe abortions near you.
You can write to Alabama’s Governor Kay Ivey via Planned Parenthood, here.
Also, if you’re from Alabama, support and vote for Vivian Davis Figures, who fought this bill in her state senate, pledged to “continue to stand for the rights of ALL women to use our God given free will”, and is running for re-election in early June.
Please share any additional information or ressources, and spread this shit like wildfire.
I love headlines like I’m sure the situation was more nuanced than this but this is just a funny situation to imagine it’s like a real life political cartoon
The worst part is that it’s even LESS nuanced than the headline makes it seem. I assumed that she felt threatened by the people with chalk, but no.
someone wrote “susie please, Mainers want WHPA -> vote yes, clean up your mess” (WHPA=women’s health protection act)
And Susan Collins got home, saw it, called the police because of the “defacement of public property”, police came and noted it wasn’t a threat, and public works washed it away.
funny how the same people who want you to burn in hell absolutely flip their shit as soon as you turn their temperature up one degree
“TST and its members have deeply held religious beliefs that bodily autonomy is a fundamental right.
Join The Satanic Temple’s fight for Religious Reproductive Rights by making a recurring donation via your state or the state closest to you.
In 11 states, egregious laws have been passed that restrict or inhibit access to abortion, make unreasonable demands on patients or practitioners, or endanger the health, safety, or wellbeing of our members. This is a violation of our Third Tenet - bodily autonomy - and Fifth Tenet - living in accordance with the best scientific understanding of the world. As a federally recognized religion, the right to practice our beliefs is protected under the First Amendment and the Religious Freedom Restoration Act.
Our ongoing legal battles in the fight for Reproductive Rights cost immense amounts of money. We need your help.” - The Satanic Temple
“Please join the fight for Reproductive Rights by making a recurring donation. Select your state or the state closest to you to donate.
A rally will be held at the capital of the state who raises the most money. The winner will be announced after the campaign ends on Oct. 31, at 11:59 p.m.
Once your donation has been made, the governor of your chosen state will receive a postcard informing them that, due to their actions, a donation has been made to TST in their name.
As a federally recognized religion, the right to practice our beliefs is protected under the First Amendment and the Religious Freedom Restoration Act.
A concerted effort to insert theocratic law into US legislation has resulted in egregious laws that restrict or inhibit access to abortion, make unreasonable demands on patients or practitioners, or endanger the health, safety, or well-being of our members.
Lawsuits are a necessary part of an ongoing battle that we are aggressively fighting to preserve the rights of women and all our members.
On July 31st, 2019 The Satanic Temple filed an appeal to a federal lawsuit in Missouri. The appeal is based on a 1989 decision handed down by the U.S. Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals “which explicitly states that the life of each human being begins at conception is ‘an impermissible state adoption of a theory when life begins.’ ” The appeal is to the same court. We need your help to continue the fight. “ - The Satanic Temple
![[Red Pen: “Ban Abortions! Call your senator!”] [Black Pen: “eat a dick, Abortions](https://64.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_m6x8tcVIES1qzajjro1_540.jpg "[Red Pen: “Ban Abortions! Call your senator!”] [Black Pen: “eat a dick, Abortions")
