Support women, girls

How do you stop the Arkansas Legislature’s anti-abortion crusade? No amount of potential harm to children or women stirs feelings of humanity or responsibility in the crusaders.

Real life for one Arkansas woman: A 19-year-old’s parents emotionally abuse her when they discover she is sexually active with Boyfriend. Dad calls her a “whore” and a “slut.” They find her birth control pills and slap her around before taking them away. Before getting new pills, she becomes pregnant.

Boyfriend’s behavior now changes. Gentle and caring before, he becomes emotionally abusive, “teasing” her about her “knobby knees.” He squeezes her knees hard. She asks him to stop. He laughs and exerts more pressure.

He grabs and pinches her breasts. She asks him to stop, telling him this hurts. She doesn’t say how mortified and shameful she feels. Laughing, he says he is “playing.”

She and Boyfriend agree to an abortion. The abuse does not stop. Boyfriend tries to strangle her twice; once she thinks, “I am going to die.” Another time, he grabs the arms of the metal chair she is sitting in, bending its arms. He then throws her on the bed and tries to strangle her. Yet another time, he grabs her by the collar of her T-shirt and throws her to the ground.

Pregnancy triggers Intimate Partner Violence (IPV) or domestic abuse for some women and children. This dynamic is reported in medical journals. Without the law allowing abortion, my life would have been continued physical and emotional abuse.

I call upon humane Arkansans to stop the crusade. Contact your legislators and the governor to vote against, or veto, these bills. Arkansas men should act to support the girls and women they love to have available all medical treatments suitable to their individual health needs, including abortion.

MARCIA BARNES North Little Rock