| FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE June 17, 2020 |
CONTACT: Mallory Quigley [email protected], 202-223-8073 |
Legislation to Protect Babies from Abortion on the Basis of Sex, Race, or Genetic Makeup is One Step Closer to Governor Reeves’ Desk
Jackson, MS. – The national pro-life group Susan B. Anthony List (SBA List) today celebrated the Mississippi Senate’s passage of 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.
State Senator Jenifer Branning, a member of SBA List’s National Pro-Life Women’s Caucus, sponsored the bill, which has also been championed by Chairman Brice Wiggins and Lt. Governor Delbert Hosemann. The bill passed by a margin of 33-11 and will head to pro-life Governor Tate Reeves’ desk following the concurrence from the Mississippi House.
“We are pleased to see the Life Equality Act advance one step closer to becoming law, thanks to the strong leadership of our pro-life allies in the Mississippi legislature,” said SBA List State Policy Director Sue Liebel. “Mississippi is a solidly pro-life state that understands abortions carried out because of a baby’s sex, race, or potential disability, such as Down syndrome, is no less than modern-day eugenics. Mississippians agree unborn children should be protected from this lethal discrimination.
“We especially thank Judiciary Committee Chairman Brice Wiggins, Senator Jenifer Branning, Senator Jeremy England, Senator Joey Fillingane, and Lt. Gov. Delbert Hosemann for working diligently to get this bill swiftly to the desk of pro-life Governor Tate Reeves for his signature.”
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.
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