| FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE July 2, 2020 |
CONTACT: Mallory Quigley [email protected], (202) 223-8073 |
Historic Legislation Protects Unborn Children from Abortion on the Basis of Sex, Race, or Genetic Makeup
Jackson, MS. – The national pro-life group Susan B. Anthony List (SBA List) today celebrated as Mississippi Governor Tate Reeves signed the Life Equality Act, legislation to stop the practice of discrimination abortions carried out because of a child’s race, sex, disability, or genetic makeup, into law. The bill passed by overwhelming margins in the state legislature.
State Representative Carolyn Crawford authored the House bill and State Senator Jenifer Branning sponsored the Senate bill. Both are members of SBA List’s National Pro-Life Women’s Caucus. The legislation has also been championed by House Speaker Philip Gunn, State Representative Nick Bain, Senate Judiciary Chairman Brice Wiggins and Lt. Governor Delbert Hosemann.
“The enactment of the Life Equality Act is an historic victory for the pro-life citizens of Mississippi, for the voiceless victims of discrimination and all who advocate for them,” said SBA List State Policy Director Sue Liebel. “Starting now, unborn babies in Mississippi cannot be targeted for abortion based on their sex, race, or potential disability, such as Down syndrome. Such lethal discrimination, whether inside or outside the womb, should be unacceptable anywhere in our society.
“We thank Governor Reeves for his strong pro-life leadership in signing this bill swiftly into law, as well as the bill’s author Rep. Carolyn Crawford, House Speaker Philip Gunn, and Rep. Nick Bain, Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Brice Wiggins, Sen. Jenifer Branning, Sen. Jeremy England, Sen. Joey Fillingane, and Lt. Gov. Delbert Hosemann for their tireless efforts to get it across the finish line.”
Mika Hartman and her son Hudson, who has Down syndrome, recently met with Mississippi legislators to advocate for the Life Equality Act. Mika and her husband chose life for Hudson after being encouraged to abort her son due to his disability. Today Hudson is a happy, healthy toddler.
Polling conducted early this year found that 65% of Americans, including 50% of those who identify as “pro-choice,” oppose discrimination abortion carried out because a baby has Down syndrome.
SBA List is a network of more than 837,000 pro-life Americans nationwide, dedicated to ending abortion by electing national leaders and advocating for laws that save lives, with a special calling to promote pro-life women leaders.
###
The SBA Pro-Life America National Pro-life Scorecard is a tool that helps hold members of Congress accountable for their legislative records on life and that highlights leadership in the fight to serve women and save babies.
See Their Rating
