Both Sides Planning for New State-by-State Abortion Fight:
As the Supreme Court court weighs the future of the landmark 1973 Roe v. Wade decision, a resurgent anti-abortion movement is looking to press its advantage in state-by-state battles while abortion-rights supporters prepare to play defense.
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"We have a storm to weather," said Elizabeth Nash, state policy analyst for the Guttmacher Institute, a research organization that supports abortion rights. "We have to weather the storm so that in the future — five, 10, 15 years from now — we're talking about how we managed to repeal all these abortion bans."
The institute estimates that as many as 26 states would institute some sort of abortion-access restrictions within a year, if permitted by the court. At least 12 states have "trigger bans" on the books, with restrictions that would kick in automatically if the justices overturn or weaken federal protections on abortion access.
One such new state jumping on the anti-choice bandwagon- Arkansas Becomes 3rd State To Introduce Texas-Style Abortion Ban:
Arkansas became the latest state to consider a copycat version of Texas’ draconian six-week abortion ban on Tuesday, when state Sen. Jason Rapert (R) filed Senate Bill 13 during a special legislative session. Rapert’s bill went a step further than the Lone Star State’s S.B. 8:The proposed Arkansas legislation aims to ban abortion at any stage of pregnancy.
And as to the current status of Texas law- state judge declares Texas abortion law unconstitutional — but does not stop it from being enforced.
And another ray of hope in the morass (thank Goddess my good governor didn't get recalled…) California plans to be abortion sanctuary if Roe overturned:
With more than two dozen states poised to ban abortion if the U.S. Supreme Court gives them the OK next year, California clinics and their allies in the state Legislature on Wednesday revealed a plan to make the state a “sanctuary” for those seeking reproductive care, including possibly paying for travel, lodging and procedures for people from other states.
The California Future of Abortion Council, made up of more than 40 abortion providers and advocacy groups, released a list of 45 recommendations for the state to consider if the high court overturns Roe v. Wade — the 48-year-old decision that forbids states from outlawing abortion.
The recommendations are not just a liberal fantasy. Some of the state’s most important policymakers helped write them, including Toni Atkins, the San Diego Democrat who leads the state Senate and attended multiple meetings.
Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsom started the group himself and in an interview last week with The Associated Press said some of the report’s details will be included in his budget proposal in January.
Another way to fight this onslaught- expanding the Supreme Court, as this Daily Kos petition to Congress is calling for:
The erosion of abortion access doesn’t just happen with the snap of someone’s fingers. It’s been happening for decades in state legislatures across the country, in courtrooms, on sidewalks in front of clinics, in violence against abortion providers. It’s been leading up to this, a middle-of-the-night decision from the highest court in the country while patients and their loved ones filled waiting rooms, waiting to see if they can have their abortions before 11:59 PM.
This should never have happened. It can never happen again. We must expand the Supreme Court.
One of the reasons we’re here is Donald Trump’s appointment of three ultra-right-wing justices to the Court. Mitch McConnell and his ilk stole the Supreme Court twice during Trump’s occupation of the White House,inviting people to the bench who answer to corporate interests and Republican donors rather than the American people.
Adding seats to the Supreme Court is the only practical, proportional response to the dangerous rise of extremism on the bench and the only way to restore its balance and integrity. We can do so through the Judiciary Act of 2021, which would add four justices to the bench and reverse the Republican theft of the Court.
Here’s the bottom line: No one should ever have to watch the clock run out on their human and constitutional rights. We need a fair Supreme Court that won’t thwart the will of the people and trample on access to healthcare.
And in other news this week…
December 6th was Canada’s National Day of Remembrance and Action on Violence Against Women:
It has been over 30 years since the murder of 14 young women at Polytechnique Montréal (December 6, 1989). This act of violent misogyny shook our country and led Parliament to designate December 6 as The National Day of Remembrance and Action on Violence Against Women
(Trigger warning, for exceptionally gruesome violence…) Indian teen arrested for beheading pregnant sister. Her “offense”, that led to this?
The woman, 19, had married a man without her family's consent, local police officials said.
UK gender pay gap unaffected by government policy over past 25 years
Report find women are less likely to be in paid work, work eight fewer hours and paid 19% less an hour on average than men
Why addressing racism against Black women in health care is key to ending the US HIV epidemic
The Feminist Peace Initiative Urges Intersectional Feminist Principles in U.S. Foreign Policy
And to end on a more positive note- BBC 100 Women 2021: Who is on the list this year?
This year 100 Women is highlighting those who are hitting "reset" - women playing their part to reinvent our society, our culture and our world. Among them are Malala Yousafzai, the youngest ever Nobel Peace Prize laureate, Samoa's first female prime minister Fiamē Naomi Mata'afa, Professor Heidi J Larson, who heads The Vaccine Confidence Project, and acclaimed author Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie.
As always, this diary is a group effort. Thanks to mettle fatigue, elenacarlena, officebss, Angmar, ramara, Tara the Antisocial Social Worker and the WOW crew for links and discussion.