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A6 U.S. NEWS
Monday 13 May 2019

More ‘heartbeat’ abortion bans advancing in South, Midwest

By RUSS BYNUM dates a 24-hour wait be- that state’s heartbeat ban see people from North productive Rights, which
Associated Press tween an in-person consul- after the American Civil Lib- Carolina, Tennessee, Ala- also has filed suit over Mis-
If a new Mississippi law sur- tation. That means women erties Union filed suit on be- bama, South Carolina — all sissippi’s ban. “But if they
vives a court challenge, it must make at least two trips half of the clinic in Louisville. over the region,” said Dr. were allowed to go into
will be nearly impossible for to her clinic, often traveling Similar legal action is ex- Lisa Haddad, the Atlanta force, they would have
most pregnant women to devastating consequenc-
get an abortion there. es for the residents of all of
Or, potentially, in neighbor- these states.”
ing Louisiana. Or Alabama. If heartbeat bans are up-
Or Georgia. held, many women who
The Louisiana legislature is are poor and have limited
halfway toward passing a means to travel would have
law — like the ones enact- few options other than to
ed in Mississippi and Geor- try to terminate their own
gia — that will ban abor- pregnancies, Haddad said,
tions after a fetal heart- possibly using abortion
beat is detected, about drugs purchased online.
six weeks into a pregnancy Others would have to drive
and before many women or fly across multiple states,
know they’re pregnant. said Elizabeth Nash, a
Alabama is on the cusp of state policy analyst for the
approving an even more Guttmacher Institute, a re-
restrictive bill. search group that supports
State governments are on a abortion rights.
course to virtually eliminate “People would go to Flori-
abortion access in large da, people would continue
chunks of the Deep South to go to Memphis,” Nash
and Midwest. Ohio and said. “How many states do
Kentucky also have passed In this May 7, 2019, file photo, Georgia’s Republican Gov. Brian Kemp, center, signs legislation in you have to cross before
Atlanta, banning abortions once a fetal heartbeat can be detected, which can be as early as six
heartbeat laws; Missouri’s weeks before many women know they’re pregnant. you can access abortion
Republican-controlled leg- Associated Press services? It exacerbates all
islature is considering one. the issues we’ve already
Their hope is that a more long distances. pected before bans can clinic’s medical director. seen around taking time off
conservative U.S. Supreme Other states have passed take effect in Ohio and “And my thought is we’re from work and having the
Court will approve, spelling similar, incremental laws re- Georgia, where Repub- not going to see those peo- money to travel.”
the end of the constitution- stricting abortion in recent lican Gov. Brian Kemp ple coming here because Proposed heartbeat bans
al right to abortion. years, and aside from Mis- signed the latest heartbeat they assume it’s already il- failed to pass this year in
“For pro-life folks, these are sissippi, five states have just bill into law Tuesday. Kemp legal in Georgia.” several Republican-led
huge victories,” said Sue Li- one clinic — Kentucky, Mis- said he welcomed the Dr. Ernest Marshall, co- states, including Texas.
ebel, state director for the souri, North and South Da- fight, vowing: “We will not founder of Kentucky’s last There, GOP lawmakers lost
Susan B. Anthony List, an kota, and West Virginia. But back down.” remaining abortion clinic in ground to Democrats in the
anti-abortion advocacy the latest efforts to bar the Georgia’s ban doesn’t take Louisville, said in an email 2018 elections, and some
group. “And I think they’re procedure represent the effect until Jan. 1. But the that banning abortions abortion foes were wary
indicative of the momen- largest assault on abortion impact was immediate. before most women know after courts struck down
tum and excitement and rights in decades. An abortion clinic oper- they’re pregnant would prior abortion restrictions in
the hope that’s happen- Lawmakers sponsoring the ated by The Women’s “have a disproportionate the state. Such efforts also
ing with changes in the Su- bans have made it clear Centers in Atlanta began impact on poor women fell short in Florida, South
preme Court and having their goal is to spark court receiving anxious calls from and communities of color Carolina, Tennessee and
such a pro-life president.” challenges in hopes of ul- patients soon after Kemp throughout the South.” West Virginia. Alabama
For abortion rights support- timately overturning the signed the law. Many call- Advocates for abortion lawmakers postponed un-
ers, meanwhile, the trend is 1973 Roe v. Wade decision ers had plans to travel from rights expect judges to til next week a vote on a
ominous. Said Diane Derzis, legalizing abortion. outside the state for abor- halt enforcement of any proposal that would make
owner of Mississippi’s sole Those challenges have be- tions. Georgia’s heartbeat new bans while lawsuits performing nearly all abor-
abortion clinic, the Jackson gun. Derzis’ attorneys are ban would have a wider work their way through tions a felony. The mea-
Women’s Health Organi- scheduled to go before impact because the state the courts. That could take sure has passed the state
zation: “I think it’s certainly a judge on May 21, seek- has 17 abortion clinics — years. House, and the Senate
more dire than it ever has ing to prevent Mississippi’s more than the combined “These laws are blatantly suspended debate Thurs-
been. They smell blood and heartbeat law from taking total in the other four South- unconstitutional,” said Elis- day amid a heated dispute
that’s why they’re doing effect July 1. ern states that have passed abeth Smith, chief counsel over whether exemptions
this.” A judge in Kentucky or are considering bans. for state policy and advo- for rape and incest should
Already, Mississippi man- blocked enforcement of “On a typical day we will cacy for the Center for Re- be stripped from the bill.q