| FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE June 23, 2020 |
CONTACT: Mallory Quigley [email protected], 202-223-8073 |
Advocates Urge Swift Enactment of Life Equality Act to Protect Babies 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 the Mississippi Legislature sent 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, to pro-life Governor Tate Reeves’s desk. The bill passed the Senate on Thursday by a margin of 33-11 and now heads to the governor.
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.
“We are excited to see the Life Equality Act advance one step closer to becoming law. Governor Tate Reeves is a strong pro-life leader and we are confident he will sign it without delay,” said SBA List State Policy Director Sue Liebel. “Mississippians agree: Abortions carried out because of a baby’s sex, race, or potential disability, such as Down syndrome, constitutes modern-day eugenics. It is unacceptable in this day and age that unborn children can be targeted for lethal discrimination in the womb, something that would not be considered tolerable anywhere else in our society.
“We especially thank the bill’s author Rep. Carolyn Crawford, House Speaker Philip Gunn, and Rep. Nick Bain, as well as Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Brice Wiggins, Sen. Jenifer Branning, Sen. Jeremy England, Sen. Joey Fillingane, and Lt. Gov. Delbert Hosemann for championing this vital legislation. We look forward to seeing it swiftly enacted.”
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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