Our Time Is Now: Power: on Abortion


Brian Kemp: Fetal heartbeat bill: sonogram echoes at six weeks gestation

[As women protested outside the state capitol in Feb. 2019], lawmakers--mostly white, mostly men--argued over HB481, the proposed bill that would add Georgia to a growing list of states passing anti choice legislation. The authors had smartly tagged the law as a "fetal heartbeat" bill, alleging, falsely that the echoes heard in a sonogram at six weeks amounted to proof of life.

Under the new provisions, both the women and her doctor could face criminal penalties for any abortions--even if a woman did not learn about her pregnancy until after the plan had been invoked or if a medical procedure led to a spontaneous abortion.

Despite scientific evidence and statewide outcries from worried women and outraged physicians, on May 7, 2019, Kemp signed the bill into law. He exercised his prerogative as the governor of the state and in the process, went against the will of the majority of the people-49 % who opposed the law and 44% who supported it.

Source: Our Time Is Now, by Stacey Abrams, p.120-1 Jun 9, 2020

Stacey Abrams: Women protested "fetal heartbeat bill" written by white men

In 2019, women ringed the state capitol, dressed in crimson and white, to mimic outfits worn from 'The Handmaid's Tale", the acclaimed novel turned television show about forced pregnancy in a dystopian future. Beyond the reach of their silent protest, lawmakers--mostly white, mostly men--argued over HB481, the proposed bill that would add Georgia to a growing list of states passing anti choice legislation. I had spent the previous few days on the phone, nudging former colleagues who wavered on their opposition to the bill and urging action from business leaders afraid of the consequences. The authors had smartly tagged the law as a "fetal heartbeat" bill, alleging falsely that the echoes heard in a sonogram at six weeks amounted to proof of life.

Under the new provisions, both the women and her doctor could face criminal penalties for any abortions--even if a woman did not learn about her pregnancy until after the plan had been invoked or if a medical procedure led to a spontaneous abortion.

Source: Our Time Is Now, by Stacey Abrams, p.120-1 Jun 9, 2020

  • The above quotations are from Our Time Is Now
    Power, Purpose, and the Fight for a Fair America
    by Stacey Abrams    .
  • Click here for definitions & background information on Abortion.
  • Click here for other issues (main summary page).
  • Click here for more quotes by Stacey Abrams on Abortion.
2020 Presidential contenders on Abortion:
  Democrats running for President:
Sen.Michael Bennet (D-CO)
V.P.Joe Biden (D-DE)
Mayor Mike Bloomberg (I-NYC)
Gov.Steve Bullock (D-MT)
Mayor Pete Buttigieg (D-IN)
Sen.Cory Booker (D-NJ)
Secy.Julian Castro (D-TX)
Gov.Lincoln Chafee (L-RI)
Rep.John Delaney (D-MD)
Rep.Tulsi Gabbard (D-HI)
Sen.Amy Klobuchar (D-MN)
Gov.Deval Patrick (D-MA)
Sen.Bernie Sanders (I-VT)
CEO Tom Steyer (D-CA)
Sen.Elizabeth Warren (D-MA)
Marianne Williamson (D-CA)
CEO Andrew Yang (D-NY)

2020 Third Party Candidates:
Rep.Justin Amash (L-MI)
CEO Don Blankenship (C-WV)
Gov.Lincoln Chafee (L-RI)
Howie Hawkins (G-NY)
Gov.Gary Johnson(L-NM)
Howard Schultz(I-WA)
Gov.Jesse Ventura (I-MN) 		Republicans running for President:
Sen.Ted Cruz(R-TX)
Gov.Larry Hogan (R-MD)
Gov.John Kasich(R-OH)
V.P.Mike Pence(R-IN)
Gov.Mark Sanford (R-SC)
Pres.Donald Trump(R-NY)
Rep.Joe Walsh (R-IL)
Gov.Bill Weld(R-MA & L-NY)

2020 Withdrawn Democratic Candidates:
Sen.Stacey Abrams (D-GA)
Mayor Bill de Blasio (D-NYC)
Sen.Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY)
Sen.Mike Gravel (D-AK)
Sen.Kamala Harris (D-CA)
Gov.John Hickenlooper (D-CO)
Gov.Jay Inslee (D-WA)
Mayor Wayne Messam (D-FL)
Rep.Seth Moulton (D-MA)
Rep.Beto O`Rourke (D-TX)
Rep.Tim Ryan (D-CA)
Adm.Joe Sestak (D-PA)
Rep.Eric Swalwell (D-CA)
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Page last updated: Oct 09, 2021