After the almost 50-year-old court decision “Roe v. Wade” was torn up, several American states have banned abortion. 52 percent of women between the ages of 15-44 live in states where access to abortion has been restricted or will be severely restricted, according to the newspaper Washington Post.
13 states already had so-called “trigger laws,” which judges in some states temporarily blocked from taking effect. In states without trigger laws, other, older, abortion laws may soon take effect instead.
Want to reinstate old laws
This is, among other things, the case in West Virginia, where legislators are trying to pass the abortion ban that prevailed before “Roe v. Wade”. That proposal was blocked by a judge last week, but has now passed and is awaiting approval in the Senate.
The law prohibits abortion at all stages of pregnancy except in severe medical cases. On Wednesday, the chamber also voted to add an exception for rape, with the requirement that the rape must have been reported to the police.
– I struggle incredibly with this bill. But I’d rather have something than nothing at all. I want to protect people, said Democratic Representative Kayla Young, who ultimately voted for the proposal on Wednesday.
“Should I, a child, be forced to give birth to another child?”
Outside the chamber, several activists, doctors and private individuals gathered to protest the proposal. In connection with the meeting of the chamber, a hearing was also held which was open to the public. About 90 people came forward to speak directly to lawmakers, many of whom were women who shared personal experiences of rape and abortion.
12-year-old Addison Gardner’s 45 seconds in the pulpit have aroused strong emotions in many and have been widely shared on social media.
– If a man decides that I am an object and does indescribably tragic things to me: Should I, a child, be forced to carry and give birth to another child?, says the 12-year-old.
Hear the fire speech in the clip above.