John—
Even in the midst of the COVID-19 crisis, anti-choice lawmakers aren’t slowing down their attacks on reproductive freedom one bit. Over the last week, extremist politicians in a growing number of states — including Texas, Ohio, Mississippi, Oklahoma, Alabama, and Iowa — used the COVID-19 pandemic as an excuse to try to stop abortion clinics from providing essential and time-sensitive healthcare.
Ohio’s attorney general started the trend when he issued an order that abortion providers in the state cease providing all “nonessential and elective surgical abortions” in light of the public health crisis.1 And now, states across the country are following suit, prioritizing political gain over our health and well-being.
The anti-choice movement is so obsessed with ending legal abortion that there’s no low they won’t sink to in order to achieve their ultimate goal — even if that means exploiting a pandemic.
It’s time that officials stop putting their out-of-touch ideology before science and start prioritizing the health and safety of women and families. As part of the 77% percent of Americans who believe in the right to legal abortion, we’re calling on U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS) Alex Azar to declare that abortion is essential healthcare. Join us by sending your message to Azar demanding he release guidance protecting access to abortion care during this crisis.
As HHS Secretary, Azar has the power to shape the health policy and narrative around reproductive healthcare in this nation. He can reject putting political ideology above science, and make it clear that abortion is essential healthcare.
Attempts to undermine our fundamental rights put our health and lives on the line. But the anti-choice movement seemingly doesn’t care if it means advancing their dangerous agenda. Their attempts to exploit this pandemic and use medical disinformation to manipulate people and control women make that abundantly clear.
We cannot let their attacks go unchallenged.
Send your message now to HHS Secretary Alex Azar demanding he put science over ideology and ensure people aren’t blocked from getting the critical, time-sensitive abortion care they need.
Thank you for all you do for reproductive freedom,
Ilyse Hogue
President, NARAL Pro-Choice America
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