The new legislation Alabama senators passed on Tuesday, May 14 would make performing an abortion at any stage of pregnancy a felony punishable by 10 to 99 years or life in prison for the provider.
The only exception would be when the woman’s health is at serious risk, there is no exception for pregnancies that resulted from rape or incest or survivors of human trafficking. Needless to say, this stripping of reproductive rights has sparked a major controversy.
AP News reported that other states such as Kentucky, Mississippi, Ohio and Georgia have also recently approved bans on abortion once a fetal heartbeat is detected, which can occurs in the sixth week of pregnancy, but none as strict and outright as Alabama.
With what looks to be a slow turn over of Roe v. Wade, this could leave many women feeling scared, shamed and alone.
This won’t only affect women in the states who have started to ban abortions, women across the country are going to feel the ripple effect from this legislation.
Pierce could show backing for its female students by opening an anonymous support group for women that either need to talk about their options, women who have or are currently going through that situation or women who are just scared of where we are heading and need to talk.
We could have counselors that have expertise in this field come on campus to suggest possibilities, alternatives and could possibly provide information for clinics that can give further information.
Abortion is already such a hard topic to talk about, especially for the woman that are put in that position.
If these women can’t find a positive outlet that can lead them through their difficult time it could lead to other life threatening situations such as depression/other mental health problems, substance abuse and unsafe abortion practices.
It would benefit the female student body’s mental and physical health for Pierce to show that no matter what you believe there is still support.
The abortion ban would go into effect in six months if it isn’t blocked by legal challenges, so they haven’t taken effect just yet, but people aren’t wasting time to protect their reproductive rights.
CBS reported that 50-plus organizations, including Planned Parenthood, SisterSong and NARAL held more than 400 rallies coast-to-coast Tuesday in opposition to new restrictions on abortion.
Every state across the country, from California to Indiana to Florida, will host at least one event. If students want to find the closest protest, they can visit the #StopTheBans website, which features a map of the 400-plus registered events.
