Federal district court judge temporarily blocks Georgia’s abortion ban from going into effect
For Immediate Release: October 1, 2019
Contact: [email protected]
In response to District Court Judge Steve C. Jones issuing a ruling temporarily blocking HB 481, Georgia’s extreme ban on abortion that would outlaw abortion before many women know they’re pregnant, NARAL Pro-Choice Georgia State Director Laura Simmons released the following statement:
“Today’s ruling is a victory for Georgia women and families and a blow to an extreme anti-choice movement with Brian Kemp at the helm. HB 481 is a cruel and clearly unconstitutional bill that could land women and doctors in jail and exacerbate our growing healthcare problems, including our maternal mortality crisis. NARAL proudly helped lead the fight against HB 481 when it came before the state legislature, working to flood the statehouse with NARAL members and make thousands of phone calls to state legislators. While we celebrate this temporary reprieve for Georgians, we will continue to fight to make sure this draconian law never goes into effect and that those responsible for its passage are held accountable.”
NARAL members have been on the ground fighting back against anti-choice attacks like HB 481 as right-wing politicians have ramped up their assault on reproductive freedom. A record-breaking 200+ pro-choice activists from across the state flooded the halls of the Capitol during debate on these cruel anti-choice measures, and NARAL Georgia members made over 6,000 calls and wrote hundreds of heartfelt letters to lawmakers asking them to stand up for reproductive freedom and oppose criminalizing abortion. This work continues with the #ReclaimGeorgia campaign to make sure Georgia voters know their elected officials’ records on this critical issue for women and families and hold anti-choice politicians accountable for their actions.
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NARAL Pro-Choice America and its network of state affiliates and chapters are dedicated to protecting and expanding reproductive freedom for all. For more than 50 years, NARAL has worked 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. Since 1969, NARAL has made history, grown to over 2 million members, and met the moments that have defined this fight with action, power and freedom. 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.”