Press Release
NARAL Pro-Choice Georgia Condemns Ruling on State’s Extreme Ban on Abortion
For Immediate Release: Wednesday, July 20, 2022
Contact: [email protected]
Washington, DC — Today, the United States Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit ruled that they will allow Georgia’s extreme ban on abortion at six weeks of pregnancy, which is before many people even know they are pregnant, to go into effect immediately. Anti-choice extremist Gov. Brian Kemp initially enacted this law (HB 481) in 2019. It was blocked by a federal court in October 2019 and later struck down with a permanent injunction in July 2020.
NARAL Pro-Choice America Southeast Campaigns Director Alicia Stallworth released the following statement in response:
“Many people don’t even know they are pregnant at six weeks—to ban abortion at this stage or any stage is just cruel. Where are millions of Georgians supposed to turn to access the care we need? Why are politicians like Gov. Kemp making decisions on what my fellow Georgians and I can and can’t do with our bodies? We are devastated, but we aren’t giving up. Today’s decision shows that elections have consequences—and we are working every day with our 80,000 members in Georgia to hold extremist lawmakers accountable.”
Today’s ruling comes in the aftermath of the anti-choice supermajority on the Supreme Court overturning Roe v. Wade in its ruling in Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization. This cruel decision opened the door for extremist state lawmakers to enforce extreme bans on abortion. Roughly half of the states in the country are at risk of banning abortion, and thus far, 12 states have bans in place, and many more are rushing to do the same. The people hurt most by these bans and restrictions are those who already face barriers to accessing abortion care—including women; Black, Indigenous, and other people of color; those working to make ends meet; the LGBTQ+ community; immigrants; young people; those living in rural communities; and people with disabilities.
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For over 50 years, NARAL Pro-Choice America has fought to protect and advance reproductive freedom at the federal and state levels—including access to abortion care, birth control, pregnancy and post-partum care, and paid family leave—for every body. NARAL is powered by its 4 million members from every state and congressional district in the country, representing the 8 in 10 Americans who support legal abortion.