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May 19th: a word from our policy and movement building manager:
What's poppin', what's poppin', what's poppin', y'all.
This week, this month, this year post-Dobbs, we have fought relentlessly against personhood ban after viability ban after drag ban after born alive bill after the next attack on our bodies and our freedom to wield them.
We saw you each and every step of the way. We hugged you, we screamed with you, we held your signs for you so you could testify, we cried with you, we passed you scripts that you didn't need because you don't need to know how to fight for freedom--You've been doing it, you came from it, you will continue to do so.
This newsletter is a collection of the doomscrolls so that you don't have to waste your screentime, but as you can imagine, the spoon drawer is skimp this week. No, we do not feel defeated. No, we are not under the weather. We are in our power, because we are resting.
The only thing I can share with you that you haven't read all over the web is that every single time we fight for our lives, we see the systems join hands against us. We don't just testify, or even always get the option to speak to the people we elected to govern; sometimes in the face of police dogs, SWAT, and cops screaming and spitting in our faces wagging their fingers, we see all the systems, versus and outnumbered by all the people. That, as you know by now, is where I rest my eyes.
Despite the terrors unending, a session still going, and systems in work, *we* were united. Every picture you see is not just protestors or doctors, but the constituent base of these legislators, community members, friends, family. For this journey, for the coming voting periods, for the sake of life outside of the work, we must take a moment.
So, if you have not been invited yet to resist in the fiercest way available, we invite you to rest this weekend. We desperately need you for the parts that come this week after. We need our moment to celebrate the legislation that restores our access, and then again every new expansion. We invite you to sleep to dream exclusively. We invite you to rest that leaves you with moments of peace. We invite you to laugh from your gut until it crosses over to cramps. We invite you to see the people power grow with in spite of restrictions, instead of only the pain we hold today.
Thank you all for your commitment to yourself and to each other. See you next week.
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May 12th, Sine Die Edition
South Carolina
South Carolina legislative session ends; special session begins
After a grueling legislative session, SC resolves as of Sine Die to enact a special session in hopes of banning abortion at 6 weeks.
Previously, the South Carolina Supreme Court has stricken down the former 6 week ban, but legislators seek to achieve unilateral support this year.
Carolina Abortion Fund will join the South Carolina Healthy Families coalition on Tuesday, packing the lobby of the statehouse. Want to join us?
Source: '23 Sine Die Resolution
Further Reading: https://www.statehousereport.com/2023/05/12/big-story-budget-abortion-drive-order-for-special-legislative-session/
S. 474 Advances to the Floor for Debate
Last week, the House Judiciary passed advanced S.474
S.474 is the surviving abortion ban amongst six and a personhood bill from the 22-23 legislative session. Anti Abortion legislators feel confident that with a new court judge in place, that the bill will pass.
Pro-abortion legislators file 1000 amendments in response.
North Carolina
“Monster Abortion Ban” SB 20 passes both chambers; awaits Cooper’s veto
Filed as a motion, the 46 page SB 20 passed both chambers in under 72 hours with no room for public comment and limited time for debate amongst legislators.
If passed, SB 20 will replace the current stringent 20 week ban in North Carolina with a 12 week ban on surgical abortion and 10 week ban on Medication Abortion (MAB)
Additionally, SB 20 would require a medical abortion involving 3 in-person appointments: an initial consultation at least 72 hours before the abortion; an appointment to administer the first pill; and a follow-up appointment 7-14 days later.
It also requires new licensing and certifications for clinics; many planned parenthoods of NC as well as independent clinics could face criminal charges or further, be shut down as a result.
Further Reading: https://www.cbsnews.com/news/new-north-carolina-abortion-limits-on-legislative-fast-track-2/
Read our Statement: https://www.carolinaabortionfund.org/statements/2023/5/3/statement-on-12-week-ban-in-north-carolina
Catch up with slides from our Repro Recap with the Repro Rights Coalition
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May 4th, Crossover edition:
South Carolina
SC Senate Adjourned with NO Final Decision on H-3774 Debate!
(This report is from April 26th, 9:06 PM EDT)
The South Carolina Senate made no final decision on H-3774, a bill that outlaws all abortions in South Carolina, with exceptions for the parent’s life, rape, and incest. The Senate’s debate focused on a doctor’s role in performing an abortion on a victim of rape or incest, which per the bill, would make the doctor report the case to a country sheriff within 24 hours.
Additionally, H-3774 states that any doctor that performs an abortion on a victim of rape could be arrested for not collecting DNA samples.
Source: “South Carolina Senate adjourned with no final vote on abortion restrictions” by Jenna Herazo, ABC 15 News | https://wpde.com/news/local/south-carolina-abortion-restrictions-rape-incest-life-in-danger-doctors-obgyn-womens-health-pregnant
AS PER APRIL 27TH, 3:03 PM: The SC Senate adjourned once more WITHOUT a final vote on H-3774!!
Out-of-State travelers cause abortion cases in SC to rise
Going back from September 2022, after the six-week ban was blocked, many out-of-state people seeking abortions crossed state lines into SC to get the procedure done.
With many other southeastern states passing restrictive abortion bills, many visitors from those states make their way to SC as SC has one of the least restrictive bans on abortions as of right now.
According to provisional data from the S.C. Department of Health and Environmental Control, there were 6,279 reported abortions in SC in 2021, and then 7,277 reported abortions in 2022.
Source: “Out-of-state travelers driving up SC abortion cases as neighboring states pass bans” by Joseph Bustos, The State | https://www.thestate.com/news/politics-government/article274553226.html
North Carolina
North Carolina House Health Committee voted to advance HB808
HB808 is a bill that would restrict access to gender-affirming medical care for transgender people under the age of 18.
The bill, originally filed as an outright ban on all gender-affirming care (including hormone therapy, puberty blockers, and surgery), was substituted in the committee for a ban limited to surgical procedures.
HB808 is one of five gender affirming healthcare bans in NC.
And y'all may have already read enough about NC and Healthcare for now...
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April 24th:
South Carolina
Pro-life groups such as Democrats for Life and the Progressive Anti-Abortion Uprising urge SC lawmakers to pass stricter abortion bans
“I agree with Democrats on the environment, healthcare and schools,” said Hayden Laye, Democrats for Life director. “As a Democrat, I am pro-science and I recognize that a preborn child is a living human being. I do not believe they should be killed.”
“I would love to see pro-life legislation from the moment of conception but I feel like the Fetal Heartbeat Protection Act is a good law that puts us in line with our neighboring states,” Laye said.
South Carolina Representative Nancy Mace condemns the GOP’s stance on Abortion
Since Gov. DeSantis signed SB300, which would ban abortions at detecting a heartbeat, Representative Nancy Mace claimed how it will impact the Republican Party.
She remarked “It's one of the reasons why [Republicans] will not win the popular vote in '24 if we continue down this path of extremism.”
Source: https://www.wjcl.com/article/mace-says-gop-stance-on-abortion-is-extreme/43660981#
North Carolina
NC House Speaker Moore says ‘at a high level', the GOP is “forming consensus” on new abortion restrictions at 12 weeks.
Republicans legislators are speculated to be close to forming a consensus as a political bloc on new abortion restrictions that would include a ban after about 12 weeks of pregnancy with certain exceptions.
House Speaker Tim Moore (R-Cleveland) said those exceptions would include rape, incest, protecting the life of the mother, and fetal abnormalities.
Abortions are currently banned after 20 weeks in NC.
Source: https://www.cbs17.com/news/north-carolina-news/nc-house-speaker-moore-says-at-a-high-level-gop-has-reached-consensus-on-new-abortion-restrictions/
Further Reading: https://www.newsobserver.com/article274570671.html
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April 16th
South Carolina:
Bill Seeking Death Penalty for Abortion Seekers is Defeated in SC
SC has become one of two states where those seeking abortions illegally could face criminal charges.
A bill was proposed that these criminal charges could become punishable by death, though recently, that bill was struck down.
Senate Majority Leader, Shane Massey, remarked the bill has “zero chance” of being implemented into law.
Newer bills are introduced by SC House and Senate Democrats to combat the death penalty proposed bill.
This past Wednesday, Senator Brad Hutto and Representative Heather Bauer introduced H.4178 and S.683.
These would work to remove "an archaic provision" of SC's law, which allows people who seek abortions to face criminalization.
This would in turn cancel the state code that imprisons people who have abortions.
North Carolina
New NC abortion ban filed in the House seeks to ban abortion at conception with no exceptions other than danger to the pregnant person’s life.
Rep. Keith Kidwell, R-Beaufort, was joined by Rep. Ben Moss, R-Richmond and Rep. Ed Goodwin, R-Chowan, in filing House Bill 533, also known as the Human Life Protection Act of 2023.
The bill was read Thursday and passed its first reading. It is now heading to committee. The language reads, "an act to prohibit abortion after conception except when necessary to preserve the life of the mother."
CAF Statement: https://www.carolinaabortionfund.org/statements/2023/3/30/statement-on-the-total-abortion-ban-filed-in-nc-32923Source: https://abc11.com/abortion-bill-north-carolina-state-house-limiting/13044521/
New NC budget proposal from the House prevents state funds from being used for abortions.
The budget prevents state funds from being used in the performance or in support of the administration of an abortion unless certain exemption criteria are met, such as the mother’s life being in danger or the pregnancy being the result of rape.
Gov. Roy Cooper will be under pressure to sign the final version because Medicaid expansion, a bill he signed last week, is tied to passing a budget.
Source: https://richmondobserver.com/local-news/house-unveils-new-nc-budget-heres-whats-inside.html
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March 27th, 2023
South Carolina:
Woman in Greenville, SC arrested after allegedly using an abortion pill to end a pregnancy from 2021.
In October of 2021, the Greenville woman was taken to St. Francis Hospital because of contractions, and communicated to hospital staff that she had taken the pill to end the pregnancy.
She then was consequently arrested after a year-long investigation by authorities.
CAF’s Statement: https://www.carolinaabortionfund.org/statements/2023/3/3/arrest-of-sc-woman-re-sma
Walgreens is being boycotted due to not sending abortion pills (mifepristone) to various states where abortion is legal, SC included.
https://time.com/6260100/walgreens-abortion-medication-boycott-mifepristone/
South Carolina was among one of these states.
This mass boycott came after 20 Republican attorneys general sent legal threats to Walgreens if it sent mifepristone in their states, including the ones where abortion wasn’t banned.
North Carolina
North Carolina experienced a 37 percent jump in abortions since Roe vs. Wade was overturned, as it’s become a top destination for people from states where it is banned or severely restricted.
North Carolina experienced a 37 percent jump in abortions, according to WeCount, an abortion-tracking project sponsored by the Society of Family Planning, which supports abortion rights. Providers in the state performed 3,190 abortions in April 2022. That number soared to 4,360 in August, after Roe fell. It was the biggest percentage increase in any state.
Source: https://www.nytimes.com/2023/03/04/us/abortion-north-carolina.html
NC Republican leaders like Sen. Phil Berger say that they are still working on finalizing an anti-abortion bill in their coalitions.
"I think the fact that you haven’t seen a bill is an indication that we’re still working," Berger said. "My sense is that we are closer to an agreement now than we were earlier, but I think as we get closer it probably might take a little longer to work out whatever the differences might be."
The "Remove Barriers to Gain Access" Act, also known as the RBG Act, has been filed by Democrats in the NC House to remove barriers to abortion like a mandatory waiting period and telehealth restrictions.
The bill removes abortion restrictions like a 72-hour waiting period for people seeking abortions, as well as restrictions on access to abortion medications through telehealth. These restrictions will help ease healthcare professionals as they treat an influx of out-of-state patients.
Read our statement here: https://www.carolinaabortionfund.org/statements/2023/3/25/removing-barriers-to-access-bill-statement-spring-2023
National
Because of a Texas abortion law, a woman in Texas has to carry an unviable pregnancy to term despite fatal anomaly.
Beaton said her physician referred her to a specialist a week after her diagnosis. However, she said the specialist confirmed that due to the overturning of Roe v. Wade, and Texas' "trigger" law effectively outlawing nearly all abortions, the physicians' hands were tied. She said the specialist told her he could not do anything to end the pregnancy unless Beaton developed a severe health issue or if the fetus dies in the womb.
"With this condition, in particular, because the head, the fetal head, develops at a different rate, often because of fluid collections, most of the time vaginal delivery is not an option. And so cesarean delivery is required," McHugh said. "And this is going to be major abdominal surgery, with risks associated with it -- for a baby that has maybe no chance of a normal life or potentially of survival at all, depending on the severity."
A divided Oklahoma Supreme Court on Tuesday overturned a portion of the state’s near total ban on abortion, ruling women have a right to abortion when pregnancy risks their health, not just in a medical emergency
The court ruled that a woman has the right under the state Constitution to receive an abortion to preserve her life if her doctor determines that continuing the pregnancy would endanger it due to a condition she has or is likely to develop during the pregnancy. Previously, the right to an abortion could only take place in the case of medical emergency.
The Supreme Court on Monday struck down a federal court ruling upholding the right for a minor to go to court to get permission to undergo an abortion, with Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson penning a solo dissent in the case.
The ruling from the court on Monday vacated a lower court ruling that a state court clerk could be sued for telling a pregnant teenager that the court must notify her parents of her attempt to get a court order to allow her to obtain an abortion without the consent of her parents.
Jackson’s dissent focused on the use of Munsingwear vacatur, in which a case is vacated because it has become moot while pending review by a higher court — unless the party adversely impacted by the initial decision is not to blame for the “mootness.”
Kansas lawmakers near approval of ‘born alive’ abortion bill that would ensure that abortion providers give consistent care to a live birth during an abortion procedure despite there not being a statistically significant chance of a live birth occurring.
Zack Gingrich-Gaylord, a spokesperson for Wichita abortion clinic operator Trust Women, said the facility has never seen an abortion result in a live birth in the nearly 10 years the clinic has been open.
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January 26th, 2023
At Carolina Abortion Fund, we are honored to always be holding the duality of the Carolinas when it comes to all that is coming out of legislative sessions. Alongside our fellow carolinians we balance our proactive legislation coming out of North Carolina introduced yesterday– the codification of Roe through two supporting bills HB19/SB19– with the outright total ban coming out of the Judiciary Subcommittee of South Carolina.
Last year, the voices of South Carolinians were heard time and time again as we defeated not one but two bans. The impact displaced OBs as well as abortion seekers, forcing them over state lines to serve and be served. Today, South Carolina’s legislators quietly heard public comments and testimony on near abortion ban H. 3774 in a judicial subcommittee. Advocates for and against abortion named in testimonies that they were not given any notice to arrive prepared, and even called and verified there would be no comments in person.
The tactics may change with the new year but we maintain the same tone: South Carolinians demand faith in their doctors and medical support teams and staff, access to healthcare of which should always explicitly include abortion, and have a right to privacy. Our officials know this has not changed overnight. South Carolinians have made clear abortion should be legal and accessible statewide. Doctors, OBs, and medical professionals have made clear their jobs suffer, the quality of care suffers, and the people of South Carolina suffer when we center ideology in policy.
Regardless of any one representative's beliefs, not only should input be considered from the constituency but valued through timely notice of space to participate in debate and in testimony, as raised by Ashley Lidow of WREN. Regardless of any non-Black South Carolinians idea of what is “the worst form of racism” (dogwhistle for “Black Genocide”, only Black South Carolinians know what genocide looks like to us: poverty, overpolicing, and complete and total control over our bodies. Policies should reflect the will of the people and the shared collective, and the shared collective reiterates that folks need to be able to trust their doctors, doctors need to be able to do their job without hurdles, and people need access when they need it without hurdles.
Today, January 26th, the NC senate introduced statewide protection of abortion through codifying Roe and enshrining a legal baseline into our constitution. This momentous occasion followed the speed of the movement and its people, who have overstated their commitment to bodily autonomy, justice and access to healthcare.
North Carolinians will not settle here, but this first step brings us legislation that we can rally FOR. We look forward to working alongside our partners with champions making history this year.
We know the will of the people transcends state lines, but each states’ legislature needs to hear it again: Abortion is healthcare, and people deserve to receive care where they are, when they need it, regardless of why.
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December 9th, 2022
North Carolina
NC Republicans remain committed to personal anti-abortion philosophies but have not discussed legislative plans yet.
NC Senate leader Phil Berger of Eden stated he thinks abortion should be restricted after the first trimester at 13 weeks of pregnancy but added that NC Republicans still have “not had a conversation with our members, particularly with our new members.”
Source: https://www.newsobserver.com/news/politics-government/election/article268519702.html
A recent report from March of Dimes found that 18% of counties in North Carolina are maternity deserts with no OB-GYN specialists or birth centers.
Abortion access in NC is hanging by a thread and a new reproductive healthcare problem has surfaced. If abortion access is prohibited in NC, more pregnant persons will have to carry their pregnancy to term without adequate prenatal care.
Source: https://mediahub.unc.edu/in-the-waiting-room-potential-changes-to-medical-education-in-nc-post-roe/
South Carolina
In the most recent debate on a stricter abortion ban in South Carolina, which would outlaw abortions at conception, no further action was taken on it as a divide among SC Republicans halted any progress on it.
On November 9th, 2022, South Carolina senators shot down a new abortion ban that would outlaw abortions at conception. The House had supported this total ban, yet during this debate, the Senate denied it and many House members did not return to reach a compromise, leaving the new ban with no further action on it until January of 2023.
Source: https://www.pbs.org/newshour/politics/effort-to-further-restrict-abortion-in-south-carolina-fails
Former Miss South Carolina has recently opened up about her advocacy for abortion rights based on her own experiences.
2013 Miss South Carolina, Jill Hartle, talked with People magazine to relay her experience with having a complicated pregnancy, yet having to go through with it due to SC’s abortion restrictions. Her child had developed Hypoplastic Left Heart Syndrome (HLHS), which is incurable. Due to recent restrictions on abortions in the state, she faced weeks of stress (emotionally and physically) following the passing of her child. She has since created the Ivy Grace Project, named after her passed child, to speak up about abortion rights and fetal anomalies.
Source: https://people.com/health/woman-forced-to-carry-unviable-fetus-for-7-weeks/
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November 2022
Well, y’all, long time no see! Election cycles hold valuable tension for those who can’t, for those who won’t, for those who do vote. Some things change immediately, and some we theorize never have. This season, there was an undeniable threat to our immediate future, and we thank everyone who exhausted their civic duties over the last few weeks.
Read our statement at the election result press release for Repro Justice and Rights orgs in Raleigh, HERE.
While you’re on the website, please check out our Interim Project tab to stay up to date with our work on the ground and in the community year round. In the meantime, we’ll be catching you up on some vital news we’ve seen while our Policy and Movement Manager was on pre-midterm vacay. Settle in, it’s a heavy one!
North Carolina
Anti-Abortion legislators in the senate grows and abortion access remains in question:
“For all intents and purposes, we have a governing supermajority,” House Speaker Tim Moore told reporters Wednesday. “We have a handful of Democrats who work with us. We have some new members coming in. And I feel completely confident that, should we need to override vetoes, we’ll be able to do our part in the House as well.”
Republicans the state Supreme Court as well, likely leading to any restrictions the legislature passes being upheld.
PPSAT and SistersongWOC asks courts for temporary relief on abortion providers
According to PPSAT, Planned Parenthood abortion clinics in North Carolina, which permits abortion up to 20 weeks, have seen their proportion of out-of-state patients spike from 15% to more than a third since the June ruling
If providers outside of standard abortion providers were able to share the influx of patients, the organizations believe we could see a direct improvement in the three week wait times clinics are seeing
TAAC demands Raleigh City Council place buffer zones outside clinics in response to anti-abortion marches
400 members of anti-abortion group “Love Life” marched and crowded the surroundings of A Woman’s Choice of Raleigh on November 11, 2022. These marches occur weekly, disrupt patients from accessing the clinic entrances, and several incidents of patient harrasment have been recorded.
Triangle Abortion Access Coalition has reached out to Raleigh City Council to demand a buffer zone for Raleigh area abortion clinics so that patients seeking healthcare can safely access these clinics.
Source: https://www.instagram.com/p/ClC1NSjr9ym/?igshid=YmMyMTA2M2Y=
Further reading: https://qcnerve.com/anti-abortion-protests-uncc/
Students at NC State University come together at Reproductive Rights March on 11/6/22
200 NC State students march together after hearing U.S. Representative Ross and NC Senator Murdock speak about the state of reproductive rights in the U.S. The march was hosted by a student organization called Progressive Students Task Force.
These students will be hosting discussions alongside NCSU’s Student Government to debrief election results and next steps to protecting reproductive rights.
Source:
South Carolina
We are elated to report the South Carolina’s abortion ban failed.
Senators rejected a House-backed proposal on Wednesday and House members didn’t return for another meeting to try and work out a compromise.
Coalition partners were on the ground Wednesday in witness to the moment of victory for us in SC, we celebrate this moment to breathe!
Source: You had to be there! Just kidding: https://www.pbs.org/newshour/politics/effort-to-further-restrict-abortion-in-south-carolina-fails
Monday, September 26th, 2022
SC:
California Governor Henry Newsom, a Democrat running for re-election, has paid for billboards in seven anti-abortion states including South Carolina. He tweeted: "@Henrymcmasters, South Carolinians will be seeing these today."
This comes directly after the senate medical affairs vote failed to pass the near total ban in South Carolina. South Carolina for now continues to be a state in the region with an ongoing legal battle over current restrictions, despite Lindsay Graham's recent proposal of the nationwide abortion ban at 15 weeks.
Source: https://www.thestate.com/news/politics-government/article266060576.html
SAVE THE DATE: Tomorrow, at 2pm, the House takes up what will be some of the last fights from this summer's multiple pieces of anti-abortion legislature.Sign upto join our coalition partners in Columbia on September 27th.
NC:
Walmart pharmacies restrict customers in purchasing OTC misoprostol as of August 1st policy changes, aiming to align with 2013 statute.
The statute requires doctors to be present while the medication is “administered” not when it is “dispensed,” a crucial legal difference given that pharmacists do not administer drugs like misoprostol, says Jay Campbell, executive director of the North Carolina Board of Pharmacy.
Misoprostol can be used with another medication to induce abortions, it’s also essential for managing a number of unrelated health conditions, including miscarriages.
Source: https://www.newsobserver.com/news/state/north-carolina/article266047141.html
Friday, September 16th, 2022
South Carolina
On September 6th, our hearts dropped as news broke that the total ban made it through to the final stage after having restrictions gutted. Only two days later, the ban failed to garner enough votes to pass.
The 30 Republicans in the 46-member chamber had a majority to pass the ban, but did not have the extra votes to end a threatened filibuster by Republican Sen. Tom Davis.
South Carolina's six-week ban is currently suspended as the state Supreme Court reviews whether it violates privacy rights. In the meantime, the state's 2016 ban on abortions 20 weeks after conception is in effect.
Source: https://www.npr.org/2022/09/08/1121940025/south-carolina-senators-reject-a-near-total-abortion-ban
Further Reading on the removal of exceptions: https://apnews.com/article/abortion-health-legislature-south-carolina-government-and-politics-6498221b8d4d48dde993d3a5a9deb1b7
North Carolina
North Carolina's 12 district congressman Ted Budd and Republican nominee for Senate co-sponsored Lindsey Graham's Nationwide Ban proposal
"We see a national abortion ban being proposed that would override the will of millions of Americans in states where abortion is more accessible including here in North Carolina. We're also seeing the political re-working of the often-introduced national 20-week ban now be re-written to be a 15-week ban. This constant moving of goalposts for political gain is an insult to voters, and a danger to women, girls, and people who can get pregnant," Pro-Choice North Carolina Executive Director, Tara Romano
Source: https://abc11.com/nc-abortion-lindsay-graham-clinic-ban/12232580/
Friday, September 2nd, 2022
What's poppin', what's poppin', what's poppin', y'all!
Welcome to our What's Poppin' weekly newsletter. Hoping this finds you setting intentions on what you need most this week to come. As our email subscriber list continues to grow, we just want to say welcome!
At CAF, we're hiring four undergraduate interns across North and South Carolina! Interns will be compensated $6,750 for the academic year. These roles do not come with benefits. Applications are being accepted on a rolling basis from now until September 15th. We'll let folks know about next steps by September 23rd. Intended start date is October 11th; expected completion date of the internship program is the first week of May (2023). The expected time commitment is around 10 hours a week.
Let's get into it!!
South Carolina:
Abortion ban H.5399 passes the house and heads to the senate
· The bill allows for exceptions in cases of rape and incest up to 12 weeks, and for cases in which the pregnant person’s life is in danger.
· Click here to contact your state senator and urge them to vote no on this abortion ban and protect abortion access for South Carolinians
S. 1373 is still in committee.
· The equal protection at conception act would make it unlawful to knowingly or intentionally perform an abortion, aid or abet or conspire to perform an unlawful abortion, manufacture an abortifacient or possess one for sale, and/or invest in, be employed by or otherwise participate in an entity engaged in prohibited abortion activity.
· Wanna turn up? Here’s where we’ll be with coalition partners :
o Senate Medical Affairs Meeting Tuesday, Sept. 6, 10 am
§ Gressette Building on State House grounds, room 105
o Full Senate returns to debate bill - Wednesday, Sept. 7, 10 am,
§ State House lobby, 2nd floor - fill the lobby to put pressure on senators
North Carolina
OBGYNs and Abortion Providers fear a worsening provider shortage for NC
· On the Ryan Program website, the residency programs in North Carolina now have an asterisk next to their names, indicating that abortion training may be restricted.
· Doctors are required to complete a certain number of abortions set by the American Congress of Obstetricians and Gynecologists to complete their residency.
· Read more about Targeted Restrictions on Abortion Providers, otherwise known as trap laws, here
· Source: https://www.newsobserver.com/news/local/education/article264838219.html
Friday, August 26th:
This long hot summer is bridled with small wins in this uphill battle. While watching the senate of medical affairs hearing (a NINE HOUR testimony session) in South Carolina and in the midst of watching an anti protestor duo shouting, we received the news that the Supreme Court in SC granted a temporary injunction in response to the planned parenthood case. Clinics resumed care for callers up to 13.6 weeks! On the same day, within the same hour, a North Carolina judge reinstated the 20 week ban.
At CAF, we are always balancing joy and applying pressure. We hope to remind you to honor your own personal definition of balance throughout this weekend. For now, let's get into it.
Carolinas
South Carolina Supreme Court temporarily blocked the 6 week ban
On July 13, Planned Parenthood South Atlantic, Greenville Women’s Clinic, and two physicians filed a new lawsuit asking the state trial court to block the ban for violating South Carolinian's’ constitutional rights to privacy and equal protection by banning abortion, by providing inadequate protections for patients’ health and by conditioning sexual assault survivors’ access to abortion on the disclosure of their personal information to law enforcement. The court voted unanimously for the temporary injunction.
The South Carolina Fetal Heartbeat Protection From Abortion Act limits abortions after a fetal heartbeat is detected, and requires abortion providers to give the mother the opportunity to see an ultrasound, hear her baby’s heartbeat, and receive information about her child’s development.
Doctors or healthcare providers who perform an abortion in violation of the law could face a felony charge with a $10,000 fine, two years in jail or both.
The bill includes exceptions for rape, incest, fetal anomalies and threats to the health of the mother. The bill also stipulates that doctors must give the sheriff the patient’s contact info within 24 hours if an abortion is performed on a woman who was pregnant as a result of rape or incest.
North Carolina Federal Judge re-enacts 20 week ban
His decision defies the recommendations of all named parties in the 2019 case, including doctors, district attorneys and the attorney general’s office, who earlier this month filed briefs requesting he let the injunction stand.
North Carolina has been previously considered a "refuge" for out of state abortion seekers in neighboring states with more restrictive bans in place.
Read our statement here
Wednesday, August 17th:
For us at CAF, we have our hands full preparing for the SC Ad Hoc Committee to share their recommendations with the House Judiciary while eyeing the forced birthing advocates of NC pushing for a 20-week ban. Each week that we actively refute stigma and harm, we’re also listening to courts explain why we do not deserve access. The dehumanizing dissents of positions of power from SCOTUS Judges to local legislators in concert with the rapid undercutting of democracy and justice (ie, encroaching upon the sovereignty of indigenous people on this land, overturning of Roe v. Wade, and the star-spangled murkiness now in the gap between the church and state; just to name a few) sing songs of reaction to people and their power.
As always, that is our resting place. The people, our power, and the future of building protections of access to care for all. Let's get into it.
Carolinas
South Carolina schedules another meeting to hear public testimony regarding abortion restrictions in the state
The meeting will take place on Wednesday, August 17th
Currently, there are two issues at stake in SC: the constitutionality of the current 6 week abortion ban, and whether or not the state legislature will pass further restrictions on/entirely ban abortion access
Information regarding how to send in written testimony or a recorded video can be found at the link below.
Source: https://www.wistv.com/2022/08/02/sc-abortion-law-being-contested-courthouse-state-house/
As expected, North Carolina Republican legislators are pushing for the state’s 20- week abortion ban, which was previously declared unconstitutional and was never enacted, to be enforced.
Republicans claim that NC AG Josh Stein is not fulfilling his duties as Attorney General by refusing to support the law.
U.S. District Judge William Osteen, who previously decided that the 20 week ban was unconstitutional, was asked to vacate his ruling, citing the reversal of Roe v. Wade in the Dobbs v. Jackson SCOTUS case.
No changes to the current abortion-related laws in North Carolina have been made yet, but we can expect Republican legislators to continue to push for this ban to be enforced, and even more severe restrictions should they gain a supermajority in the NC General Assembly this November.
Friday, July 29th:
NC Republicans assert commitment to “protections of the unborn” should they gain a supermajority in November, despite North Carolinians wanting abortion access expanded.
Last week Stein said his office would not ask a federal judge to reinstate the state’s 20-week ban on abortion
The November election does not have the governor on the ballot, but it does have all 170 seats in the state House and Senate. If Republicans’ majorities turn into supermajorities, they can override vetoes from Cooper without any votes from Democrats.
Source: https://www.newsobserver.com/news/politics-government/article263855392.html
Abortion is still legal in South Carolina with the ban sitting in committee.
Carolina Abortion Fund is still serving both Carolinas
Check out our coalition partner PPSAT’s Vicki & our Director of Engagement Justine helping folks navigate a purposely tricky legislative map in SC: https://www.statehousereport.com/2022/07/29/how-abortion-works/
Forward Justice, Emancipate NC, You Can Vote NC and Poor People’s Campaign celebrated the voter restoration of 50,000 North Carolinians
Tens of thousands of people serving punishments for felony convictions in North Carolina but who aren’t behind bars can now register to vote and cast ballots this fall after an appeals court ruling
Friday, July 22nd
We are grieving the uncertainties coming out of the legal landscape in South Carolina, the repeated assaults on our beings from across the nation, and the extreme violence being normalized by elected officials as law. We are rejoicing in communities growing, strengthening and outlasting every hour of oppression to the day. Onward, friends, let's get into it:
In South Carolina, the House Committee tasked with reviewing the state’s abortion restrictions have given a favorable vote to a statewide total ban on abortion, with exceptions only for the immediate health and safety of the pregnant person
As always, what’s considered a threat to the health and safety of a pregnant person is poorly defined, and exceptions to bans are not victories to be celebrated as access to abortion should not be conditional.
The state currently has a ban at 6 weeks, and CAF has seen an increased number of callers from the heightened restrictions in the state.
As noted by South Carolina Democrats, South Carolina has not expanded Medicaid and ranks poorly in terms of quality of life for children, so the risks of banning abortion are grave.
The bill banning abortion entirely will now move on to the House Judiciary Committee.
Our coalition partners at WREN have made it simple to contact committee members and demand abortion access in South Carolina - click this link to let them know an abortion ban has no place in SC.
https://www.washingtonpost.com/technology/2022/07/22/south-carolina-bill-abortion-websites/
As anticipated, NC Attorney General Josh Stein will NOT ask the court to remove the injunction preventing North Carolina’s 20 week ban from being enacted, meaning abortion access up until viability (typically defined as around 24 weeks) remains legal in North Carolina.
Republican legislators had previously urged Stein to take such action, and he reiterated that he is committed to preventing further restricting the rights of pregnant people.
Again, it is important to remember that we are one election away from potentially losing abortion access in North Carolina - if Republican legislators gain the supermajority in the General Assembly in November’s election, they will have the ability to override a veto from Governor Cooper on any anti-abortion legislation they push through. Be sure to check out Planned Parenthood’s list of endorsed candidates so you can be informed at the polls.
Source: https://ncdoj.gov/attorney-general-josh-stein-will-not-ask-court-to-limit-womens-freedom/
Democratic Representative from North Carolina Alma Adams was arrested outside the US Capitol building protesting abortion restrictions
16 other members of Congress were also arrested for “crowding, obstructing, or incommoding”
Source: https://www.charlotteobserver.com/news/politics-government/article263616413.html
Wednesday, July 20th
Welcome to our What's Poppin' weekly newsletter, where we try to delicately sandwich the happenings of the world with our hope, resistance and joy in the work.
At CAF this weekend we are celebrating the joys of North Carolina joining the other six states in starting the paths to enacting legal protections for abortion access, as well as the attempts to enact this on the federal level from the Biden administration. While there are tiny wins, there remains an uphill battle towards collective liberation for people and their bodily autonomy. While we have an executive order to celebrate here in NC, we have a budget that reflects state funding for Crisis Pregnancy Centers, designed to deceive persons seeking an abortion into nonclinical prenatal advice instead. While we have an executive order to celebrate from the Biden administration, we have an anti abortion Judge being considered for a lifetime appointment by the white house to serve on the U.S District Court for the Eastern District of Kentucky. Every piece of progress came from the work of the people, advocates, lobbyists and legislators for liberation. It is an honor to share both the struggle and the successes each week, and so let's get into it!
Carolinas
Planned Parenthood, Greenville Women’s Clinic, and two individual physicians filed a lawsuit against the 6 week abortion ban in South Carolina.
The lawsuit argues that the 6 week abortion ban violates SC’s state constitution based on the rights to privacy and equal protection.
The 6 week ban had previously been blocked, but was allowed to take effect after Roe v. Wade was overturned in June.
North Carolina’s Governor Cooper signed the state budget this Monday June 11th.
The budget does not expand Medicaid, though Governor Cooper and NC House and Senate leadership expressed commitment to expanding Medicaid, as negotiations continue to take place.
The budget still provides millions of dollars in funding for crisis pregnancy centers. CPCs are establishments that falsely advertise themselves as “women’s health clinics”, but provide few, if any, healthcare services and actively attempt to coerce women into carrying unwanted pregnancies to term with false information and stigmatizing abortion.
You can find more information about what is included in the state’s budget here: https://www.newsobserver.com/news/politics-government/article263365063.html
Spotlight
Join us and Sistersong in Durham for an abortion teach in the park!
Operation Save Abortion: A program that educates and onboards new activists into areas of abortion activism that align with their abilities, interests, and capacity. The program launches July 17th, with a virtual training day made up of interactive conversations and activities led by abortion activists and experts from around the country - live-streamed into activist house parties across the country.
Our Post-Roe World, Explained, hosted by the United States of Women. RSVP here.
Repro Jobs’ Worker Aid Fund: For folks working in the field of reproductive health, rights, and justice, Repro Jobs has established a fund providing financial aid based on need. Click the above link for more info!
Until next week y'all.
Fellow Schemers and dreamers,
CAF