filibuster to delay the voting on this bill – she stood and spoke for nearly 12 continuous hours in support of abortion rights. Unfortunately, Governor Rick Perry called an emergency special Congress session and passed this bill. It hasn’t gone into effect yet, but they will be disastrous.
The result of all this bureaucracy is that women, particularly women in poverty, are losing their rights. Abortion has not been made illegal but as a result of all these limits, there isn’t much difference between the two. The American Civil Liberties Union gives the example of a low-wage worker from El Paso, Texas. The nearest clinic for this woman is 269 miles away in Albuquerque so she would most likely need to take a bus there, stay overnight (thus taking more unpaid time off work), and pay for an abortion that may be costly. In the end, capitalism wins – women who have means and money to get abortions will be able to do so. Women who live in poverty are the true victims of the government’s trickery.
On March 27th, 2012, President Obama released a statement to the supporters of Planned Parenthood. He says that people have to think when they say they are against Planned Parenthood, they are against the many health services that are provided to women. President Obama implores his fellow constituents remember the individual women; the Ms. Parras of this country. According to him:
...over the past year we’ve had to stand up to politicians who wanted to deny millions of women the care they rely on and inject themselves into the decisions that are best made between a woman and her doctor. Women are not an interest
group. They’re mothers and daughters and sisters and wives. They’re half of this country. And they’re perfectly capable of making their own choices about their health.
President Obama has also come out in favor of Senator Wendy Davis’ filibuster. During the filibuster, President Obama’s official twitter account tweeted, “Something special is having in Austin tonight. #StandWithWendy”. The American Civil Liberties Union isn’t taking closings of women’s health centers and abortion clinics lightly. They have gone to court, multiple times and against different state governments, in order to fight for women’s rights. For every bill that is proposed to limit women’s rights, the American Civil Liberties Union is there to fight against it and alert the country.
having in Austin tonight. #StandWithWendy”. The American Civil Liberties Union isn’t taking closings of women’s health centers and abortion clinics lightly. They have gone to court, multiple times and against different state governments, in order to fight for women’s rights. For every bill that is proposed to limit women’s rights, the American Civil Liberties Union is there to fight against it and alert the country.
Locations dedicated to serving women’s health needs are of vital importance, especially in this day and age. Despite that, women’s health centers are being threatened more than ever. There is hope, however. Groups like the American Civil Liberties Union are around to stand up for women’s health and politicians like Senator Wendy Davis are there to stop injustice. Even though there are many challenges for women’s health centers to overcome today, these centers will continue to function and best serve the women around them.