Abortion Tragedies and a Georgia Victory

Latest

Abortion rights rally outside DNC, Chicago, 2024. Photo/Nanzi Muro

Two Black women died recently in Georgia because they were unable to obtain basic abortion health care due to the fear of prosecution by hospitals and doctors under that state’s 6-week abortion ban. State legislatures in red states are imposing draconian laws, and when people try to get abortion access put on the ballot, the legislatures block their attempts. Democracy is strangled as people’s bodily autonomy is taken away.

However, a victory was won recently in Georgia when Fulton County Judge Robert McBurney struck down the state’s abortion ban as unconstitutional, leaving an earlier law allowing abortion up to 22 weeks in effect. The judge wrote in his ruling that “liberty in Georgia” includes “the power of a woman to control her own body . . . and to reject state interference with her healthcare choices.” The judge wrote that “women are not some piece of collectively owned community property the disposition of which is decided by majority vote.”

One of the reasons this victory came about was because grassroots organizations such as Sister Song Women of Color Reproduction Justice Collective and others filed a lawsuit against the State of Georgia, and the county judge took a firm stand on the side of justice.

“Today’s win was hard-fought and a significant step in the right direction towards achieving Reproductive Justice in Georgia” said Sister Song Director Monica Simpson. 

“Georgia has an opportunity to ensure we are able to live beyond tragic circumstances, to ensure that physicians will be able to act in their expertise, and to ensure that no one else has to die unnecessarily,” said the Director of Feminist Women’s Healthcare Center.

The struggle continues. The ruling will be appealed by the State.

This case reveals that who we elect at the local and state levels is critically important, and when they do not represent our wishes, we organize to oppose them, and victory is possible.

Editor’s note: As we go to print, the Supreme Court has put on hold the abortion rights victory until the State of Georgia’s appeal has been heard. 

+ Articles by this author

Free to republish but please credit the People's Tribune. Visit us at www.peoplestribune.org, email peoplestribune@gmail.com, or call 773-486-3551.

The People’s Tribune brings you articles written by individuals or organizations, along with our own reporting. Bylined articles reflect the views of the authors. Unsigned articles reflect the views of the editorial board. Please credit the source when sharing: ©2024 peoplestribune.org. Please donate to help us keep bringing you voices of the movement. Click here. We’re all volunteer, no paid staff.

LEAVE A REPLY

Please enter your comment!
Please enter your name here

Featured

Journalist Says Why ‘I Can No Longer Work With Reuters’

A photojournalist says why it is impossible for her to maintain a relationship with Reuters "given its role in justifying and enabling the systematic assassination of 245 journalists in Gaza."

Abrego Garcia Detained Again, Could be Deported to Uganda

Kilmar Abrego Garcia, a Salvadoran immigrant worker, was freed from detention in Tennessee Aug. 22 and then re-arrested by ICE on Aug. 25 in Maryland. The Trump administration is trying to deport Abrego Garcia to Uganda.

An Open Letter to Mayor Matt Mahan of San Jose, CA.

From the San Jose CA Frontlines: Stop the sweeps. Unhoused people want a safe place to stay. All people should be respected, shown compassion, understanding.

Global Food Authority Declares Catastrophic Famine in Gaza

On Aug. 22, the world's top authority on hunger crises officially declared that a catastrophe-level famine in Gaza exists—a humanitarian disaster engineered by Israel's relentless blockade of food aid and other life-saving supplies.

Thousands of Texans Protest Trump’s Redistricting Plan To Get More Votes

The Texas capitol of Austin saw 5,000 people protesting Trump’s unconstitutional redistricting plan and other issues threatening our democracy.

More from the People's Tribune