KINGMAN – On the eve of the 2nd anniversary of the controversial Supreme Court’s “Dobbs decision” overturning Roe v. Wade, the Mohave County Democrats had a recent gathering to finish collecting signatures and having notaries notarize the Arizona for Abortion Access initiative petitions that circulators have been collecting signatures from Mohave County voters since October of last year. The afternoon also included a showing of the movie “Call Jane.” The movie, starring Elisabeth Banks and Sigourney Weaver, is a fictionalized look at the Janes, activists who created an underground abortion network who provided illegal abortions in Chicago before Roe v. Wade was signed in 1973.
Abortion rights advocates have been working to place a constitutional amendment proposal on the state’s November ballot that would protect abortion access up to fetal viability, which doctors believe is around 22 to 24 weeks of pregnancy. Arizona for Abortion Access, the group backing the amendment, has gathered more than 700,000 signatures. Advocates must submit 384,000 valid signatures by July 3 to make the general election ballot.
The Dobbs decision took Arizona’s back to the previous law that was on the books prior to 1973, which unfortunately took us back to 1864, before Arizona was a state. Subsequently in April of this year, the Arizona House voted to overturn the 1864 abortion ban, paving the way to leave a 15-week limit in place. In March 2022, it was Republican Gov. Doug Ducey who signed into law the state’s 15-week ban, which has no exceptions for rape or incest. That legislation stated explicitly that it did not overrule the 1864 law.
Elaine Downing, Chair for the Mohave County Democrats said, “It is important to keep educating the voters about this issue and to dispel the misinformation that is out there regarding the truth about abortions. Six in 10 Americans think abortions should be legal. While the abortion rates increased significantly in the decades immediately after Roe v. Wade, they have since decreased to below the 1973 level. Passing this Arizona Constitutional Amendment is a vital step towards safeguarding fundamental rights, promoting public health, and advancing social justice. This decision transcends partisan divides, emphasizing the universal importance of personal autonomy and dignity in shaping one’s own life path. As the debate unfolds, the focus must remain on these core principles, recognizing that the right to choose is a cornerstone of a free and just society.”
Downing says Mohave County Democrats will continue to bring light to this issue by continuing to show these types of movies, documentaries, and sharing articles in their newsletters and social media sites up until the November election, which also includes setting up a call with one, if not two, of the original “Janes”.
