Criminalization of Reproductive Health Care is Killing Women
Vote Like Your/Daughter’s/Sister’s/Wife’s/Granddaughter’s Life Depends on it
“Do not, do not put our lives in the hands of politicians, mostly men, who have no clue or do not care about what we as women are going through, who don’t fully grasp the broad reaching health implications that their misguided policies will have on our health outcomes. The only people who have standing to make these decisions are women with the advice of their doctors... So please, please do not hand our fates over to the likes of Trump, who knows nothing about us, who has shown deep contempt for us. Because a vote for him is a vote against us. Against our health. Against our worth.” -Michelle Obama, at a 10/28 Kamala Harris rally in Michigan
The day before Hurricane Helene devastated Western North Carolina, I had the opportunity to join a group of elected officials from across the country, led by Georgia Rep. Nikema Williams, in Washington D.C. We gathered in front of the Capital for a press conference where we each spoke about the critical importance of access to reproductive health care, ending with Rep. Williams introducing a resolution on abortion as a human right. It was a powerful and moving event, with women from all levels of elected office, from across the country, describing how the criminalization of reproductive care has affected their communities.
Earlier that week, ProPublica released their powerful and shocking reports on the tragic stories of two women in Georgia, Amber Thurman and Candi Miller who both died as a direct result of Georgia’s restrictive abortion laws. And now, this week, we learned the horrific story out of Texas of the pregnant 18-year-old who was turned away from multiple ERs, and denied desperately needed care by health care providers who feared prosecution if they intervened in her pregnancy-related sepsis. She died with her mother by her side, helplessly begging doctors to save her daughter’s life. These deaths happened over two years ago and are only being made public now. We can only guess how many more there have been and will be until we reverse these regressive laws.
I had the privilege of participating in the event in D.C. thanks to the work of a national coalition of reproductive rights organizations, led by IPAS, that are developing a new legal framework in support of abortion and reproductive healthcare grounded in the reality that this care is a human right, to which every woman is entitled. Every level and branch of government has a role to play in ensuring this access. This is especially true in North Carolina, where we have seen an enormous influx of “abortion refugees” seeking safe, legal abortion care. as surrounding states have passed extreme restrictions, and in some cases, fully criminalized abortion.
Along with serving on the Town Council, I also volunteer as a Clinic Escort at our local Planned Parenthood. Of late, the parking lot is routinely filled with out of state license plates. We witness families, couples, and individuals who are having to make profound sacrifices to get care in our community, including driving all night, sleeping in their vehicles, and using their limited resources, that would otherwise go to rent and groceries, to get to NC to access essential health care. It is abhorrent and heart-breaking to hear their stories. While we welcome all who need care to seek it in our community, clinics and abortion funds are overwhelmed by the demand. In some cases, it is still not enough. Amber Thurman was able to travel from Georgia to NC to access medication abortion, but Georgia’s criminalization of care still prevented her from being treated for complications, resulting in her tragic death.
The United Nations Human Rights Committee called on all levels of US government to take action to ensure no one is criminalized for a pregnancy outcome. Here in Chapel Hill, I was honored to bring forward a resolution on September 11, unanimously supported by my colleagues on the Town Council, asserting that reproductive rights and abortion are human rights. Our friends in Carrboro, under the leadership of Council Member Randee Haven-O’Donnell, did so as well, as our communities worked together to declare our commitment to upholding these rights.
As we all well know, North Carolina is a critical swing state in this all-or-nothing presidential election, with enormous consequences for abortion access both here and across the South. Another Trump administration risks enactment of a national abortion ban. At the state level, there are several critical seats in our court system on the ballot, including the state Supreme Court, that could be called upon to make the final decision on whether the people of North Carolina have access to reproductive care.
No one can afford to sit out this life-or-death fight. If you have not voted yet, PLEASE VOTE! Find your polling location and a sample ballot here. Bring your id! I am terrified by the potential outcome of Tuesday’s election but also cautiously optimistic. I hope to be celebrating later this week. But no matter the outcome, these restrictive state laws will still be in place and the fight for our fundamental human rights must continue. Our lives – and those of the women in your life – depend on it.
Get involved:
· IPAS
Thank you for your courageous efforts, Karen!
Thank you, Karen! A powerful statement about this fundamental right.