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I think we can agree that the last year has been heartwrenching.
When the Supreme Court struck down Roe v. Wade with the Dobbs decision, abortion rights abruptly disappeared in much of rural America.
Right here in North Carolina, I've been on the front line of the fight for reproductive freedoms. So, when the Republican Majority in our state legislature proposed SB20, an abortion ban after 12 weeks, I took action.
When I consider legislation, I immediately take two things into account: my children's future, and the facts.
Right now, statistics state that one out of five women will be victims of a rape or attempted rape. Of that group, only 30 percent of survivors will ever report the assault. .
So many things prevent a survivor from coming forward — they may be afraid, ashamed, or trying to protect the perpetrator, or even think they did something wrong.
As I looked at the facts, I thought about my daughter and her 12-year-old friends. If one of them reached out to an adult for help reporting and getting care, we'd have to tell them about the daunting obstacles lawmakers put in their way:
- sharing a traumatic story with (often skeptical) strangers,
- enduring an ultrasound,
- listening to information designed to frighten and intimidate,
- and then sitting through the anxiety of a 72 hour wait.
All of this before she could receive the medical care she needed.
I couldn't fathom adding these hurdles to an already trying time. I stood against this legislation and firmly voted 'no.'
With Roe gone, 15 states have banned abortion and another 12 have restricted it — including my home state of North Carolina. Because your state could be next, the One Country Project is committed to protecting abortion rights. We've seen time and again that when states like North Dakota, or Alabama, or North Carolina ban abortion, it affects everyone in that state, but it inordinately burdens rural communities.
Legislation like SB20 only creates new ones for our communities by requiring a single parent to secretly travel 500 miles for abortion care, by provoking doctors to resign from rural hospitals rather than risk being arrested for saving a patient's life, by leaving a child hopeless when they need to terminate a pregnancy but can't trust their family for help.
That's why the One Country project is so committed to restoring abortion rights — and that's why we need your support in this fight. Mark the anniversary of the Dobbs decision by redoubling your commitment to reproductive freedom: chip in $16 to support OCP today.
Ashton
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Ashton Clemmons
North Carolina State Representative |
Ashton Clemmons is a proud North Carolinian and currently serves in the state house in district 57. She is an educator and has a bachelors, masters, and doctorate in education and has worked in some of the most underserved schools in North Carolina. Clemmons is a tireless advocate for her community and seeks to bring better education and job training programs, along with policies to protect health care, the environment and voting rights.
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Founded by former U.S. Senator Heidi Heitkamp (D-ND), the One Country Project is dedicated to reopening the dialogue with rural communities, rebuilding trust and respect, and advancing an opportunity agenda for rural Americans. Our mission is to ensure rural America’s priorities and values are heard, understood, well-represented and reflected in policy in Washington.
Your financial contribution supports our work to promote greater opportunities for rural communities.
If you're able, please join our rural champions program by making a recurring gift. Knowing we can count on your gift each month really helps.
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