On May 1, a friend and I went to the Maine Capitol to support the reproductive justice bills under consideration that day. Waiting to enter, we wondered how many of the “pro-life” people in line actually cared about the lives and well-being of the already born — 140 million of whom live in or one $400 crisis away from desperate poverty — or about the planet itself, the source of all life.

How many respected the variety of religious views that Mainers have? How many of them would sooner injure or even kill the nearest reproductive justice advocate than honor that person’s life and constitutional right to control their body? The Eighth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution prohibits cruel and unusual punishment. The 13th Amendment prohibits slavery. Forced pregnancy and forced birth violate both these amendments, among other parts of the Constitution.

Later, as we listened to the “pro-life” legislators’ questions, we were stunned by the level of (willful?) ignorance some displayed, essentially mocking the testifiers who offered powerful scientific and personal insights. I won’t soon forget the legislator who asked (my paraphrase) whether the testifier believed a pregnant person who was 34 weeks into an ectopic pregnancy should still be allowed get an abortion, even if the “baby” was healthy? Wait, what? Doesn’t this guy know his scenario is absurd? The woman would be dead, the fetus would be dead, and there would be blood everywhere.

Abortion is health care and health care is a human right.

If abortion is against your religious views, please don’t have one. Please allow the rest of us to follow the moral and personal guidance our traditions and our Constitution provide.

I hope someday the U.S. will recover from its accelerating slide into fascism and engage once more in building a true multicultural democracy where the civil and human rights of all are respected and cherished. Please do not be complacent. Get involved, show up, donate if you can. Time is running short.

 

Elizabeth Leonard

Waterville

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