Republican legislators in the Ohio House have introduced a bill that would ban all abortions at all stages of pregnancy, even in cases of rape, incest or when the mother’s life is in danger. The bill makes an “unborn human” a person under Ohio’s criminal code regarding murder, manslaughter and homicide and allows wrongful death lawsuits. Under this law, it is even possible that a pregnant woman who seeks an abortion could end up charged with a crime.
This is the most intrusive and harmful legislation the Ohio General Assembly has ever introduced. It’s clear that HB 565 is part of a larger, coordinated strategy of anti-abortion lobby groups, like Ohio Right to Life, to completely erode a woman’s right to choose safe and legal abortion and criminalize abortion providers for doing their job and providing essential reproductive health care.
Decisions about whether to end a pregnancy are deeply personal, and should be left to a woman, in consultation with her health care provider, her family, and her faith. Despite the majority of Ohioans’ belief that politicians can’t make these decisions for someone else, the legislature continues to introduce bills that restrict women’s access to full range of reproductive health care, including abortion.
We need to fight back against these attacks on a woman’s right to make her own reproductive choices. Here are two ways you can join this fight:
1. Please call your state representative and urge them to vote no on House Bill 565.
Call Fred Strahorn (District 39) at (614) 466-1607
Call Michael Henne (District 40) at (614) 644-8051
Call Jim Butler (District 41) at (614) 644-6008
Call Niraj Antani (District 42) at (614) 466-6504
Call Jeff Rezabek at (District 43) (614) 466-2960
Don’t see your legislator here? Don’t know who they are? Visit this website to find out who they are and how to contact them: http://www.ohiohouse.gov/
Call Script:
Hi, my name is [NAME], and I’m calling from [ADDRESS]. As your constituent, I write to urge you to vote NO on House Bill 565, a total abortion ban.
Voters have strongly rejected similar measures in the past, even in the most conservative states like Mississippi and North Dakota. There is no question that such legislation is unconstitutional and, if passed, it will lead to costly litigation that hard-working Ohioans’ will ultimately pay for.
Please do the right thing for the women, men, and families of Ohio, and vote NO on House Bill 565.
2. You can attend the Miami Valley Rally for Reproductive Rights on Sunday, March 25 from 2-4 pm and show your support for women’s reproductive rights. The event is hosted by the Women’s Rights Alliance, and you can find more information here: https://www.facebook.com/events/2038161546441832/