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Advocates from across Missouri rally to fight back against 8-week abortion ban

Press release

ST. LOUIS, MO — More than 2000 Missourians rallied together under the Arch following the Missouri Legislature’s passage of an extreme ban on safe, legal abortion. The day of action was organized by NARAL Pro-Choice Missouri, Planned Parenthood Advocates in Missouri and the ACLU of Missouri, and in coordination with #StopTheBans Coalition partners Gateway Women’s Access Fund, Hope Clinic for Women, National Council of Jewish Women – St. Louis, and ProgressWomen

Part of the National Day of Action to Stop the Bans, the rally focused on bringing Missourians together to fight back against House Bill 126, a dangerous bill that would ban abortion at almost every stage of pregnancy, criminalizes doctors and makes abortion a felony. The bill, which passed last week, is a part of calculated, nationwide attack led by anti-choice politicians to overturn Roe v. Wade and end the right to safe, legal abortion.

The rally featured health care providers, faith leaders, advocates and patients who shared their abortion stories and spoke out against the attacks on reproductive freedom.

Sara Baker, legislative and policy director, ACLU of Missouri:

“Women have a constitutional right to access a safe abortion. Missouri’s abortion ban is out of sync with what the public wants. Seven out of ten Americans support access to safe, legal abortion care. If politicians really cared about women, children and families, they would focus on Missouri’s maternal and infant mortality rates, not spend time passing blatantly unconstitutional laws or trying to force women to remain pregnant against their will.”

Michele Landeau, board president, Gateway Women’s Access Fund:

“Abortion bans are a form of social control that have no place in our modern society. Banning abortion will never stop abortion, it will just make it that much harder for people to get a safe abortion. Gateway Women’s Access Fund remains deeply committed to ensuring that all Missourians can obtain safe abortion care, no matter how many draconian laws are approved by the Missouri legislature.”

Alison Dreith, deputy director, Hope Clinic for Women:

“The majority of Americans that support access to safe and legal abortion are very resourceful. We will not only continue to make sure that patients seeking abortion services get the compassionate care they need, no matter what, but we will continue to organize for a future when all in this country have agency and autonomy over our bodies. We’re bringing our own folding chairs to the fight, and those who are trying to criminalize us should be very afraid.”

Leah Boersig, board president, NARAL Pro-Choice Missouri:

“Decisions about if, when, how and with whom to start or grow a family should be made by women and their doctors, not politicians. Missouri politicians want to intrude in personal decisions. But that’s not their place.”

“7 in 10 Missourians support access to safe and legal abortion, and today they spoke out and organized like never before. Today, Missourians from across the state gathered to protect access to essential abortion care, and remind our elected officals that there is no freedom without reproductive freedom.”

Nancy Litz, vice president of advocacy, National Council of Jewish Women – St. Louis:
“I put my life on the line to risk having an abortion pre-Roe. I will fight so my daughters or my potential granddaughters don’t have to face the same terrifying prospect.”

M’Evie Mead, director of policy and organizing, Planned Parenthood Advocates in Missouri:

“Gov. Parson has put the health and lives of Missouri women at risk in his race to make our state the one that overturns Roe v. Wade at the Supreme Court. These bans on safe, legal abortion will have real costs — expensive legal costs and human costs for the women and families who need reproductive health care.

“People need to know abortion is still legal in this state and Planned Parenthood Advocates will do everythingwe can to keep it that way.

Hon. Stacey Newman, founder and director, ProgressWomen:

“ProgressWomen is enraged that our GOP-controlled legislature chose to ignore reproductive medical professionals in passing an extreme unconstitutional abortion ban. It is clear their misogynistic mission is to mandate forced childbirth without exceptions. We know from history that people with wombs will die which is nothing but inhumane.”