Two pro-abortion groups have teamed up to sue the state of Arkansas for its recent passage of a law that would ban most abortions in the state. Planned Parenthood and the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) have petitioned the courts to block the law, which would ban all abortions except those committed for medical emergencies. The new law was signed by Governor Asa Hutchinson in March and was slated to take effect on July 28.
“Arkansas’ anti-abortion politicians know that Roe v. Wade is still the law of the land, but they passed this abortion ban anyway, which triggers a direct challenge to Roe,” Meagan Burrows, staff attorney at the ACLU Reproductive Freedom Project, said in a statement. “We are not going to stand by while Arkansas attempts to deny people their constitutional right to abortion care.”
In response, Arkansas Attorney General Leslie Rutledge voiced her support of the law. “Arkansas is the most pro-life state in the nation, and I will continue to defend laws that will protect the life of the unborn from radical organizations like the ACLU and Planned Parenthood that promote the killing of unborn children,” she said.
As previously reported, Arkansas lawmakers passed this bill fully expecting that it would result in a court challenge. While previous abortion legislation has not faired favorably in past court challenges, proponents hope that a more conservative lean to the U.S. Supreme Court may result in a different outcome this time. Gov. Hutchinson alluded to this when he signed the bill, saying, “SB6 is in contradiction of binding precedents of the U.S. Supreme Court, but it is the intent of the legislation to set the stage for the Supreme Court overturning current case law.”
Pro-life groups are already ramping up testimony in support of the bill. Notably, a group called The Moral Outcry is aiming to collect one million signatures in support of the state’s abortion ban. The organization hopes to use its impressive petition to put pressure on the court to uphold the law. Click here if you would like to sign this petition.
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