How to fight for abortion rights
By the League of Women Voters of South Carolina
This article was prepared as advanced actionable information for the July 7 hearings, but the information, background, talking points, and committee members’ contact information will be useful throughout our battle for women’s reproductive rights.
House Bill H.5399 prohibits all pregnancy terminations in all circumstances. This no-exceptions abortion ban, to be heard on July 7, threatens the rights and bodily autonomy of women —not only our moral agency and personal dignity, but our lives.
Testify by email! Come in person if you can. Read our testimony: 7.7.22 House Ad Hoc Committee Testimony: H.5399 No Exceptions Abortion Ban
H.5399, to be heard in committee on July 7, would prohibit all pregnancy terminations in all circumstances.
The League of Women Voters of South Carolina will not respond by begging for specific exceptions for those who are raped, victims of incest, or even in danger of losing their lives.
We reject the corruption of our rights under both federal and state constitutions, the appalling damage threatened to the health of those who are pregnant, and the destruction that will be brought to their families. We reject the abdication of moral responsibility to women, their families, the poor, and the vulnerable in our state.The 2021 “heartbeat” law should be repealed and further attempts to restrict abortion prior to viability should cease.
Provide YOUR testimony. Some may insist that voices won't matter. Ours must.
When
Thursday, July 7, noon
Blatt Building, Room 110 , 1105 Gervais St., Columbia
Key legislators
House Ad Hoc Committee on Abortion:
John McCravy JohnMcCravy@schouse.gov
David Hiott DavidHiott@schouse.gov
Micah Caskey MicahCaskey@schouse.gov
Jefferey Johnson JeffJohnson@schouse.gov
Heather Crawford HeatherCrawford@schouse.gov
Josiah Magnuson JosiahMagnuson@schouse.gov
Chandra Dillard ChandraDillard@schouse.gov
Travis Moore travis@upstatelawsc.com
Jackie Hayes JackieHayes@schouse.gov
Melissa Oremus MelissaOremus@schouse.gov
Rosalyn Henderson-Myers RosalynHenderson-Myers@schouse.gov
David Weeks DavidWeeks@schouse.gov
How
Email testimony to each committee member!
Your testimony becomes part of the legal record.
Testify in person.
If you can, help pack the room. Sign-up for testimony on July 7 will be first come, first serve, on site in Blatt, Room 110. There will be no virtual option. Limit comments to 2-3 minutes. Be sure to email your testimony as time/audience will be limited.
Talking points
Abortion is essential health care that allows people to decide what’s best for their bodies and their futures.
Abortion access should be available and accessible for everyone, no matter their identity, circumstances, or location.
Abortion restrictions disproportionately impact people of color, marginalized communities, and young people. Those who already face discriminatory obstacles to health care—Black, Indigenous, and other people of color; women; people with disabilities; people in rural areas; young people; undocumented people, and those having difficulty making ends meet —would be most affected.
No one should be criminalized or targeted for pregnancy outcomes and making their own decisions about their bodies and futures. People have been self-managing their abortions safely and effectively— both with pills and other options—for hundreds of years. The real threat of criminalization unfairly targets marginalized communities.
Your personal stories and perspectives as a constituent count—ALWAYS!
More information
Bill details: H.5399 Prohibition of Abortion
July 7 Meeting Agenda
SC Constitutional right of privacy and establishment clauses
House Bill H.5399 would ban all abortions in all circumstances. This bill threatens the rights and bodily autonomy of women —not only our moral agency and personal dignity but our lives. The 2021 “heartbeat” law should be repealed and further attempts to restrict abortion prior to viability should cease.
Testify by email to #StopTheBansSC on July 7. Come in person if you can. Read our testimony.
Issues referenced by this action alert: