Rally in city over changes to US abortion laws
PRO-CHOICE GROUP’S SUPPORT FOR WOMEN AFFECTED BY BAN
A Pro-choice organisation in Nottingham is to hold a solidarity rally on Saturday, July 2 to show support to people in the US affected by the decision to overturn Roe V Wade abortion laws.
The event will be held at 2pm until 3pm by the Brian Clough statue.
The campaigners are urging Nottingham people to show support at the event by “fighting to maintain access to safe and legal abortion”.
The event, organised by Pro-choice Nottingham, will feature speakers who will talk about the importance of safe and legal access.
The campaigners say this will not only show solidarity but send a clear message to the British Government that similar decisions will not be accepted.
On Friday, the
US Supreme Court overturned the law that protects access to abortion.
So far, almost half of the
US states have already passed legislation that could come into force allowing changes that reduce the time limit or ban abortion completely.
The ruling is expected to disproportionately affect minority women who already face limited access to healthcare, according to statistics analysed by The Associated Press.
Lisa Clarke, a local nurse and member of Pro-choice Nottingham said: “I and many of my friends and colleagues are utterly appalled at this decision, some really shaken and fearful.
“This is an extremist right-wing action and must be vocally rejected by our own government, some of whom have been influenced by some of the same right-wing extremists.
“Our own cabinet contains some vocal anti-abortion voices.
“The UK government must speak out now and reassure women that we won’t be having our access to safe reproductive health questioned or removed.”
Clare Murphy, Chief Executive of the British Pregnancy Advisory Service, BPAS, the UK’S leading abortion provider, said: “We are appalled by the Supreme Court’s decision to revoke women’s constitutional right to abortion.
“This is an assault on women’s human rights, their lives, and their families. “Banning abortion does not remove women’s need to end a pregnancy.
“It simply makes it more difficult and more dangerous.”
They added: “We are calling on the UK government to publicly condemn this assault on women’s human rights, and make clear on the international stage that removing women’s access to swift, safe abortion services has absolutely no place in any society that calls itself civilised in the 21st Century.
“For our politicians to watch silently as women’s rights are rolled back would be unforgivable.
“We urge the government to show leadership as a matter of urgency.”
The UK government must reassure women we won’t have access to safe reproductive health questioned or removed.
Lisa Clarke