Georgia Faith Leaders Condemn Six Week Abortion Ban
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Friday, July 22, 2022
MEDIA CONTACT
Austin Schuler, aschuler@faithinpubliclife.org | 540-280-3393
Georgia Faith Leaders Condemn Six Week Abortion Ban
“We will act with moral courage and conviction to expand access to reproductive healthcare and advocate for a safe, healthy, and sustainable Georgia where all of God's beloved community can thrive.”
Atlanta, GA - A federal appeals court panel has allowed a Georgia law that bans abortions after about six weeks of pregnancy – before many people know they’re pregnant – to go into effect.
Below are statements from Georgia faith leaders condemning the new law.
State Senator Rev. Kim Jackson
(District 41)
“I am deeply disappointed by the 11th Circuit’s decision to uphold Georgia’s six-week abortion ban. This legislation not only strips away a women’s right to choose, but also poses greater public health risks for marginalized people. The maternal mortality rate for Black women in Georgia is three times greater than it is among white women. In short, the six week abortion ban may very well be a death sentence for some women. The Supreme Court's decision on Roe put the power to protect the rights of pregnant persons back in the hands of state legislators. Therefore, we must focus on electing pro-choice candidates in Georgia in order to reclaim all people's rights to make their own medical decisions.”
Min. Leo Seyij Allen
Georgia Campaigns Manager
Faith in Public Life Action
Decatur, GA
“The 11th circuit decision to enforce HB 481 has effectively made Georgia the most dangerous place to live for pregnant people and women of color. While the court cited the recent Supreme Court ruling on Roe v. Wade as justification, people of faith know that reproductive healthcare – including the right to an abortion – is a universal, human right.
Anti-choice judges and politicians have declared war on women and pregnant people in Georgia, particularly those living in poor, rural and majority Black and Brown communities. In a state with the second-highest maternal mortality rate in the nation, this cannot stand. Georgia faith leaders will continue to denounce and resist the criminalization of abortion. We will act with moral courage and conviction to expand access to reproductive healthcare and advocate for a safe, healthy and sustainable Georgia where all of God's beloved community can thrive.”
Min. Shavonne Williams
Georgia Organizing Ambassador
Faith in Public Life Action
Augusta, GA
“As a preacher of the gospel, retired physician’s assistant and a mother I am extremely disappointed with the 11th Circuit’s decision to uphold Georgia’s six week abortion ban in the aftermath of the overturning of Roe v Wade. This decision goes against a person’s inherently God given right to bodily autonomy. This six week ban is very dangerous and its impact will be measured in lives lost. This is particularly true for Black people when being Black and pregnant is a dangerous combination, due to Georgia’s high maternal mortality rate. Given the inequities in the criminal justice system, the potentional criminalization of abortion care will also further harm Black and rural communities and their healthcare providers.
Elections have consequences. The gradual erosion of our democracy and freedoms is evidence of this. As a community of faith charged with loving our neighbors, we will continue to mobilize voters to make decisions up and down the ballot that will protect our freedoms to live in healthy communities and thrive.”
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Faith in Public Life Action is a national movement of clergy and faith leaders united in the prophetic pursuit of justice, equality and the common good. Together, with a network of over 50,000 leaders, they are leading the fight to advance just policies at the state and federal level that affirm our values and the human dignity of all.