National Organization for Women

Donate Join, Re-Join or Renew

Current Action Alerts

  • About
    • Who We Are
    • Chapters
    • Southern Feminist Organizing
    • Seek Then Speak
    • Gallery
    • FL Collegiate NOW
  • Events
    • Get Involved
    • Book Club
    • Membership Events
  • FLNOW Ed Fund
  • Issues
    • Constitutional Equality
    • Economic Justice
    • Freedom from Violence
    • LGBTQIA2+ Rights
    • Racial Justice
    • Reproductive Justice
    • More Issues
      • National Health Care
      • Human Trafficking and Sex Worker Rights
      • Book Bans
      • Support Our Young Feminists
      • Child Custody / Court Watch
  • News
    • Press Releases
    • Blog
    • Sign up for our newsletter!
    • Florida NOW in the News
  • Resources
  • Legislation Tracking
    • Delegation Meetings & Town Halls
  • PAC
    • Florida NOW PAC
      • 2025 Endorsments
    • Endorsement Questionnaire
  • Members
  • Join or Renew
  • REPORT SEXUAL ASSAULT

May 30, 2019 by admin

NOW Demands Access to Abortion Care For Women in Missouri

Statement from NOW President Toni Van Pelt and Missouri NOW President Freda Mckee:

WASHINGTON, D.C. — The draconian abortion ban signed into law by Missouri Gov. Mike Parson would criminalize abortions performed during or after the eighth week of pregnancy, with no exceptions for rape or incest.  As we’ve seen in other states where anti-abortion junk science has prevailed over constitutional protections and reproductive rights, Missouri’s ban will be challenged in court.

Ordinarily, that would mean a legal freeze on enacting these immoral restrictions while the appeal is underway, but now we know that Missouri has no intention of following the law. Missouri’s health department refused to renew the license of Missouri’s only remaining clinic performing abortions for unspecified reasons, citing “possible deficiencies” that they’ve told Planned Parenthood could lead to criminal referrals against doctors. Only a last-minute judicial ruling, rooted in legal precedent and constitutional norms, temporarily prevented the illegal and immoral closing of Missouri’s last remaining clinic performing abortions.

Gov. Parson and the anti-abortion extremists who’ve hijacked state politics have blown up the legal system, ignored the appeal process and hijacked democracy by attempting to unilaterally shut down Missouri’s last abortion clinic.  This outrageous step would have made Missouri the first state without an abortion clinic since the Supreme Court’s Roe v. Wade decision in 1973.

If the extremists have their way, supporters of reproductive rights will have nothing left to appeal.  The clinic will be gone before the next court hearing and women of Missouri will suffer, especially women of color and women living in poverty.  Their lives will be further endangered and they will face an undue burden when trying to access their constitutional right to safe, legal and affordable abortion care.

NOW sees through this transparent attempt to circumvent the law and impose the anti-abortion crowd’s version of religious law on women. What’s next–Handmaid’s Tale dress codes and scarlet letters?  Thought police?

Missouri’s end run around our legal and reproductive rights must not stand.

Contact

Kimberly Hayes, Press Secretary, press@now.org, 202-570-4745

About admin

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

You must be logged in to post a comment.

Take Action

Become a Florida NOW Member

Update Your Contact Info or Chapter

Learn About Our Seek Then Speak Campaign

2025 Legislative Recap

Upcoming Events

Oct 19
2:00 pm - 4:00 pm

FL NOW Movie Event – Sunday, October 19th, 2pm – movie “GET OUT”

Oct 29
7:00 pm - 8:00 pm

Florida NOW Panel Discussion: Sex Worker Rights & Reproductive Rights

Nov 16
2:00 pm - 4:00 pm

FL NOW Movie Event / Sunday, November 16th, 2pm / “LAKOTA NATION VS UNITED STATES”

View Calendar

MERCH

Order a Florida NOW T-Shirt online! Shipping in 5-10 days. Go to: https://www.etsy.com/shop/TheKatylist

Get Florida NOW Updates

Sign up for our mailing list, choose only the news you want to receive.

Florida NOW

Florida NOW’s purpose is to take action through intersectional grassroots activism to promote feminist ideals, lead societal change, eliminate discrimination, and achieve and protect the equal rights of all women and girls.

Learn more about us.