#StopTheBans

May 21, 2019

Hundreds gathered on short notice Tuesday evening in Foley Square to protest the recent wave of abortion bans.

So-called “Heartbeat” laws have been signed in Alabama, Georgia, Mississippi, Kentucky, and Ohio. Under Alabama’s law, performing an abortion is a felony punishable by up to life in prison, with no exceptions allowed for rape or incest.

Ever since the Supreme Court ruling Roe v Wade in 1973 American women have generally had access to legal abortion. If the Court takes up a challenge to any of these new laws, the possibility exists that it could overturn the precedent. In that event, abortion restrictions would be up to individual states to decide. While barely a fifth to a quarter of Americans nationally favor a complete ban, the percentage is higher in the states passing these new restrictions.

At the event in NYC speaker after speaker denounced these new laws. Among those addressing the rally were Manhattan Borough President Gale Brewer, City Councilman Brad Lander, Women’s Rights Attorney Gloria Allred, NYC First Lady Chirlane McCray, Mayor Bill de Blasio, Planned Parenthood NYC Chief Medical Officer Dr. Ila Dayananda, and Black Lives Matter Greater NY Director of Operations Chivona Newsome. Music was provided by the Rude Mechanical Orchestra.

“History has shown us there’s no banning abortions. There’s only banning safe, legal abortions.” ~Dr. Ila Dayananda

“The Abortion ban that occurred in Alabama and spreading across the nation is a strategic attack on black women and all women living below the poverty line. Women without access to health care or who have limited resources with be affected whether live they reside in urban or rural areas.” ~ Chivona Newsome

“Politicians shouldn’t be making decisions best left to individuals, their families, and their doctors. Together we say: Stop the bans.” ~Rude Mechanical Orchestra