Activists rally at Capitol after GOP lawmakers block attempt to repeal near-total abortion ban
PHOENIX (AZFamily) — People on both sides of the abortion debate gathered at the state Capitol Wednesday afternoon as lawmakers battled over recent attempts to repeal the near-total abortion ban.
The law from 1864 outlaws all abortions except to save the mother’s life, with no expectations for rape or incest.
It also calls for mandatory prison time for doctors who provide abortions. Activists with Arizona for Abortion Access held a rally encouraging people to come out and vote on this issue in November.
They call the Civil War-era abortion ban cruel and dangerous.
“Not that we should have to justify it but I have had friends who have had abortions because they would have lost their lives if they hadn’t done so. This is health care for women but women should have the ability to control what happens to their own body, no matter what,” said Kate Murphy, a Valley mom who supports abortion access.
More than a dozen people against abortion were also at the Capitol Wednesday and praised GOP lawmakers for holding the line and blocking attempts to repeal the near-total abortion ban.
One woman told Arizona’s Family she encourages more women to give their babies up for adoption instead of ending their pregnancies.
“How many people want babies who can’t. They [pregnant women] could have just gone through with their birth and gave it to someone that really wanted that baby,” said Suzette Coggins, who supports the near-total abortion ban.
Abortion rights advocates also accused Republican lawmakers of trying to suppress and confuse voters.
This comes after a memo was leaked detailing Republicans’ plan to potentially refer separate abortion measures to the ballot that could split or dilute support for Arizona for Abortion Access.
“We are taking back our freedom to determine our own future and it is one that leaves the government out of our private health care decisions,” said Dr. Candace Lew, an OBGYN who spoke at the rally.
Arizona for Abortion Access has to submit more than 340,000 signatures by July to appear on the November ballot. The group said it has gathered more than enough signatures to qualify.
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