Dear John,

Our lawsuit against the state of Missouri challenging its harmful total abortion ban is moving forward! This is huge.
In January, along with the Americans United for Separation of Church and State, the law firm Arnold & Porter, and local counsel Denise Lieberman, we sued the state of Missouri to fight back against its abortion ban and other restrictions on behalf of 14 clergy representing seven different faith traditions.

The state defendants tried to have our case dismissed, but on June 30, the court largely sided with us and ruled that our challenge to the state’s abortion ban and restrictions on medication abortion could move forward.

Not only does this mean that we can continue to fight against these draconian laws, but the court also agreed with our argument that one of the clergy plaintiffs has standing to sue the state on the basis that her health and life are threatened by an abortion ban, even though she isn’t currently pregnant. This decision sets an important precedent, opening up a new legal avenue to challenge abortion restrictions in court.

Unfortunately, the court stopped short of hearing our challenge to several other restrictions, which made abortion inaccessible long before Roe was overturned. So, while this update is an exciting victory, it is a reminder that it will take all of us and every tool we have to meaningfully restore abortion access in Missouri.

Thank you for supporting us, and we will keep you updated with what’s next!

-Michelle
---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Michelle Banker
Date: January 19, 2023 4:07 PM
Subject: BREAKING: We’re suing the state of Missouri over its abortion ban

Dear John,

We’re suing Missouri over its abortion ban.

Together with Americans United for Separation of Church and State, we just filed a lawsuit [[link removed]] against the state of Missouri to fight back against its harmful abortion ban and several other abortion restrictions. Lawmakers in Missouri have made it clear through the text of their laws and in legislative debates that the bans and restrictions they enacted impose religious beliefs about God and when life begins on all Missourians—even those who have different, deeply held beliefs. [[link removed]]

Religious extremists and anti-abortion lawmakers are abusing religion to hurt us—to deny our basic human rights. These abortion bans not only deny people equality and bodily autonomy, they also violate the separation of church and state that the Missouri Constitution ensures.

That’s why today, on behalf of 13 Missouri faith leaders from six different religious denominations and our partners at Americans United for Separation of Church and State, we filed a lawsuit in Missouri state court to strike down the abortion bans and several other restrictions. Anti-abortion extremists are attacking abortion access in every way they can, so we’re fighting back in every way WE CAN.

Many people, including the faith leaders we represent, support abortion because of their religious beliefs. Their faith calls them to support abortion access because of the critical importance it holds for the health, autonomy, economic security, and equality of women, all who can become pregnant, and their families. This lawsuit is a tool in that fight.
While we have a long fight ahead of us to restore abortion access to the residents of Missouri—and every state where reproductive health care is restricted—this lawsuit is a significant first step in fighting back against religious dogma dictating our health care.

As we fight for the separation of church and state in the courts, we want to thank you so much for always being with us. Because of your continued support of our work, we’ll keep fighting for abortion access—in Missouri and beyond.

In solidarity,

Michelle Banker
she/her/hers
Director of Reproductive Rights and Health Litigation
National Women's Law Center

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