Federal judge blocks anti-laws in Alabama

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: October 28, 2016

Media Release – Alabama Reproductive Rights Advocates (ARRA) group speaks out on Abortion Rights Rulings

Huntsville, AL, October 28, 2016 — ARRA commends the ruling by a federal judge blocking two laws today that would have restricted abortions in Alabama, including one that would prevent clinics from operating within 2,000 feet of public schools.
The second law would ban dilation and evacuation abortions, which are considered safe and commonly performed in the second trimester.
U.S. District Judge Myron Thompson’s Thursday ruling blocks the implementation of the laws because they will likely be found unconstitutional.
In the opinion, Thompson wrote that the state’s efforts to reduce disruption at schools located near two clinics placed an undue burden on women seeking abortion.
“The record contains absolutely no evidence of concerns expressed by the school’s students or their parents about the Huntsville clinic or the demonstrations near it… It’s long past time for our elected officials to stop wasting time and taxpayer money passing laws that violate women’s constitutional rights and start focusing on the needs of women and families in this state,” Susan Thompson, executive director of the ACLU of Alabama wrote.
The closure of two of the state’s five abortion clinics would disproportionately affect low-income women who would have to drive further, even out of state, to get abortions, Thompson wrote. Huntsville and Tuscaloosa clinics would have bee affected.
The ACLU of Alabama has challenged seven abortion restrictions passed in Alabama during the last three years.

Trust Women

Pro-Choice vs Pro-Life

Overturning Roe VS Wade doesn’t mean women go to “another state” it means something far worse!

Pro-choice does not mean pro-abortion. We do not advocate abortion over birth – we simply defend the right of women to decide for themselves. The pro-choice movement supports and works towards preventing unwanted pregnancies, reducing abortion, promoting contraception, educating women and youth, and ensuring families have the necessary resources to raise healthy, happy children.

$40 for Choice!

From September 23rd to November 1st, The National Right to Life (sic) is hosting 40 days of life. Alabama Reproductive Rights Advocates are responding with a challenge — raise $1 a day for 40 days for REPRODUCTIVE FREEDOM!!!

Alabama Reproductive Rights Advocates (ARRA) offers financial assistance to any woman who finds money is the last obstacle between herself and abortion or birth control and parenting in healthy and safe environments. Since Governor Bentley has defunded Planned Parenthood in Alabama, we will be helping even more women get into private clinics.

And we need your help! 

Here’s how you can help: pledge 25¢, 50¢ or even $1/day for 40 days — that’s a $10, $20, or $40 pledge to ARRA to help a woman in need. It’s easy to do, look on the left for our donate button and click there.  Encourage your friends and loved ones to help as well.

ARRA Member Turns Intimidation Tactic Into Art to Raise $ for Alabama Women

The co-executive director for ARRA (Alabama Reproductive Rights Advocates), Pamela Willis, is an accomplished artist – in fact, you may recognize her artwork from our “Trust Women”  logo that features the state of Alabama with the feminist fist icon.

A few months ago, the so-called “Pro Life Action League” sent every single abortion clinic in the USA a set of plastic handcuffs with an intimidating note on the anniversary of the historic Roe vs. Wade Supreme Court decision.  Let’s just say that PLAL learned very quickly that you don’t make southern women mad, because we will turn the tables on you.

Initially, we raised over $1,000 for the little “handcuff stunt”.  So, PLAL is now indirectly funding abortion for women who need assistance through their dumb intimidation tactic(s).  Not to be outdone, Ms. Willis finally completed her art piece using the pair of handcuffs that were sent to the clinic in Huntsville, Alabama.  The title of this absolutely beautiful work of art is called “Don’t Tread on Me” and all proceeds from the sale of this painting will go directly to ARRA to help Alabama women.

If you would like to bid on this artwork, you can go to her Facebook page here and leave a comment or send her a private message, or email her here.  As of June 6, 2015, bidding is up to $525.  Bidding closes at midnight on July 4, 2015, so get to bidding and help ARRA continue to assist Alabama women in their time of need.

"Don't Tread on Me"

Statement on the Alabama House of Representatives vote on HB 527

The Alabama House of Representatives has put HB 527, the so called “2000 foot bill” that equates reproductive health centers with sex offenders on their special order calendar for Tuesday, May 27 at 1PM to be voted on the House floor.  It is #7 on the special order calendar,  If you can make it to the State House in Montgomery, we need you there in the front row of the gallery wearing your best prochoice gear to show the lawmakers that we will not idly stand by while our legal healthcare rights are taken away from us!  This bill could close EVERY reproductive healthcare center in the state.  No signs are allowed in the gallery, which is on the 7th floor.

Here is our statement on the House vote on HB 527:

Alabama Reproductive Rights Advocates stands firmly against HB 527 and the targeted attack on womens healthcare in Alabama. This bill was brought about out of the frustrations of the anti-abortion protesters in North Alabama who have been attempting to block access by manipulating existing laws unsuccessfully. These protesters are now seeking to use the Alabama State Legislature as a pawn at the expense of the taxpayers to carry out a personal vendetta. By likening a health care facility to a sex offender in the wording of the bill it is clear that the intent is not to make women safer, but to deny access in Huntsville. These last minute attempts to force this bill through the legislature would be better served to fix our state budget, and not create an ongoing legal battle by violating the constitutional rights of Alabama citizens.”

Statement on Alabama’s Proposed HB405 “Heartbeat Ban” Bill

“This proposed bill makes it quite obvious that the Alabama Legislature is once again trying to eradicate a woman’s constitutional right to obtain a safe, legal abortion. These attempts have nothing to do with women’s health and everything to do with interfering with women’s reproductive healthcare choices, as most women are not even aware they are pregnant before a heartbeat might be detected. This type of legislation has been overturned by the courts in North Dakota & Arkansas and will be challenged in Alabama if it passes. We would hope that the Legislature would work to solve our looming budget shortfall instead of passing unconstitutional legislation that will cost the state untold amounts of taxpayer money that it does not have to spare.”

-Alabama Reproductive Rights Advocates

The text of the bill can be found here.

Giving every Alabama woman a voice for choice.