FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
March 7, 2013
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Washington, D.C. – Ilyse Hogue, president of NARAL Pro-Choice America, blasted anti-choice politicians in the Arkansas legislature for overriding Gov. Mike Beebe’s (D) veto and enacting the nation’s worst anti-abortion law, banning the procedure at 12 weeks.
“This is another example of how anti-choice politicians are obsessed with rolling back reproductive rights guaranteed by the Supreme Court’s Roe v. Wade decision more than 40 years ago,” said Hogue. “This law robs women of control over their own lives and puts that control in the hands of politicians in Little Rock. This intrusive, extreme agenda is out of touch with our nation’s values and priorities—and we stand firmly in the opposition.”
Yesterday, the Arkansas legislature overrode the governor’s veto. This comes right after the legislature overrode Gov. Beebe’s veto of another ban on abortion after 20 weeks. Both proposals are blatantly unconstitutional, and the 12-week ban will make Arkansas the state with the harshest anti-abortion law in the country. The ban is set to take effect 90 days after the legislature adjourns.
Pro-choice organizations have vowed to challenge the law. NARAL Pro-Choice America will continue to educate and engage its on-the-ground member activists on this issue.
NARAL Pro-Choice America and its network of state affiliates are dedicated to protecting and expanding reproductive freedom for all Americans. NARAL works to guarantee that every woman has the right to make personal decisions regarding the full range of reproductive choices, including preventing unintended pregnancy, bearing healthy children, and choosing legal abortion. In recognition of its work defending our constitutional right to choose, Fortune Magazine described NARAL as “one of the top 10 advocacy groups in America.”
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