Trump and Vance backed anti-abortion activists in March for Life speeches yesterday.
There was a rally yesterday in Washington, it was the annual March for Life rally and the first chance to see what intentions as regards womens health are now the election is over.
Two points of interest: Firstly, there has been a Federal Act in place, the federal Free Access to Clinic Entrances Act, which
penalizes people who threaten, obstruct or injure someone who is trying to access a reproductive health clinic – or who vandalize a clinic.
Trupp/Vance are pardoning all those convicted under the act,
Trump dramatically declaring they were realising the "persecuted".
Secondly concerns about access to abortions and related aspects of womens health, including criminalising abortion. We know already its only possible in certain states
But there are changes which are not so obvious Mike Johnson, (house speaker) "did win big cheers from the marchers, though, when he mentioned a recent executive order that declared that people are divided into male and female “at conception”.
That language evokes the doctrine of fetal personhood, which holds that embryos and fetuses should be granted full legal rights and protections – and which, if fully enacted, would totally outlaw abortion as well as potentially criminalize abortion patients
Most of the marchers feel there should be no exceptions - ie no abortions at all - except for ectopic pregnancy.
"Human life starts at conception,” said Henry Cooper, an 18-year-old march attender from California. “An abortion is never medically necessary. Ectopic pregnancy is something else. That’s not considered an abortion. There’s always something you can do.”
“Besides ectopic pregnancies, there are no cases where abortion improves the likelihood of the mother surviving other than a non-abortion way would,” agreed Luc Lessard, 18, of Colorado. “There’s no real cause for it.”This is just ignorance.
The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, the pre-eminent membership organization for US ob-gyns, has repeatedly emphasized the medical need for abortion access. At least five women have reportedly died after abortion bans affected their medical care.
As of January 8, 2025, 12 states have banned abortion Alabama, Arkansas, Idaho, Indiana, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, Oklahoma, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, and West Virginia.
Here is a state by state summary of restrictions. You'll see it's very widespread, complex, and punitive.
www.context.news/money-power-people/roe-v-wade-which-us-states-are-banning-abortion#
(Quotes on abortion rally from the Guardian)