Here's how we fight back:
In what is sure to be a trendsetting move among Republican-led states, Florida is moving to replace its existing abortion ban with a dramatically more restrictive ban. EMILYs List-endorsed women at the state and local levels are fighting back, but they need support.
Please donate today to help Democratic pro-choice women STOP Republican anti-choice extremism in its tracks:
John, it's been a week of highs and lows for reproductive rights in America.
I'll start with the good news: last Tuesday, pro-choice champion Judge Janet Protasiewicz won her election (with the support of EMILYs List!) and became the deciding vote on the Wisconsin Supreme Court. This is a huge win for abortion rights in the Badger State.
Now for the bad news: a conservative extremist judge in Texas ordered the FDA to reverse its approval of Mifepristone, a safe and essential abortion medication, last Friday night. And, just a couple of days earlier, the Florida state Senate passed a highly restrictive six-week abortion ban.
I want to tell you more about what's happening in Florida, but first, will you donate now to help elect pro-choice women who will fight back against attacks on abortion nationwide?
So, after the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade last summer, a 15-week ban went into effect in Florida in July. And to be clear: this ban is restrictive and dangerous as it is. But, of course, the GOP didn't stop there.
Last week, the state Senate passed legislation restricting abortion at six weeks of pregnancy. This is effectively a total ban: many people don't yet know they're pregnant at six weeks, and even if they do, Florida's legal requirements for obtaining an abortion — two doctor's visits and a 24-hour waiting period in between visits — are nearly impossible to fulfill in that time frame.
The Florida House is expected to pass its version of the six-week ban this week, and Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis has already pledged to sign it into law.
This is not only devastating for residents of Florida, the nation's third most populous state, but also for people seeking abortion care across the South. Even with its 15-week ban in place, Florida has provided some access for those in nearby states with even more restrictive laws.
And this has been the Republicans' plan all along. The GOP wants abortion banned outright, no matter what they say and no matter what the (growing!) majority of Americans actually want — which is to keep abortion safe and legal.
So, how do we fight back? We keep electing pro-choice women, like Janet Protasiewicz, who will work to protect and restore reproductive rights in every corner of the country. Donate now to join the fight:
https://emilyslist.org/go/Help-Women-Win-April23
Thank you,
Sarah Curmi (she/her/hers)
Vice President of State & Local Campaigns, EMILYs List
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