Several Connecticut state lawmakers spoke out last week against the recent push to expand abortion in the state by making it a constitutional “right.” Notably, the lawmakers were all Democrats who say that Black and minority women in their communities need more resources — not more abortion.
Representative Treneé McGee D-West Haven, boldly spoke against the abortion industry’s targeting of Black women as she addressed a crowd of thousands gathered for the state’s third annual March for Life.
“I’m concerned with the abortion industry’s target on women of color and pieces of legislation that, I believe, are detrimental to my community,” McGee told the crowd. “In the state of Connecticut, you can seek an abortion up to 24 weeks – that is six months.”
She spoke of Fannie Lou Hamer, a civil rights activist who denounced abortion as “legalized murder.”
“To Fannie Hamer and the black women of the movement, your work to educate our community was not done in vain. Your knowledge and insight into the systemically racist abortion industry has been exposed,” McGee said. “Your ‘no’ to Margaret Sanger the day she came to your doors and told you to abort your children will be heard around the world. The younger generation of black, Latina, and indigenous women of color is taking our rightful place to expose the mass genocide of our children.”
Hours before the March, McGee was joined by other Black and minority Democratic lawmakers who spoke against the proposed amendment in a forum. The lawmakers argued that expanding abortion further would harm their communities; instead, they said, the focus should be on improving resources for mothers and their children.
“This is a conversation about the fundamental value of human life, about the right of every woman and birthing parent to access quality care and support through their pregnancy and childbirth journey,” said Rep. Robyn Porter, D-New Haven. “It is about recognizing the inherent worth and dignity of every mother and birthing parent regardless of race or ethnicity.”
McGee noted that 75% of the women in the state who receive abortions are on Medicaid. She slammed abortion advocates who are pushing for the amendment with the claim that it will better benefit Blacks and minorities in the state.
“The specific drive was if the abortion industry is not funded in the way it should be — although it receives billions of donations annually — that Black and Latin women will suffer, when we know that is actually not the truth,” she said.
Rep. Anabel Figueroa, D-Stamford, said it is lack of education and medical resources that push many Latina women to abortion, and noted that these women need better medical insurance.
“As a Latina, I can tell you that Latinos don’t really look for abortions,” she said. “Once a baby is conceived, we look forward to bringing the baby to our lives and providing it with love. We welcome them into our families as we continue to grow.”
