The Quickie: Iowa Supreme Court Hears Oral Arguments Over Six-Week Ban

Welcome to “The Quickie” — Planned Parenthood Action Fund’s daily tipsheet on the top health care & reproductive rights stories of the day. You can read “The Quickie'' online here.

In today’s Quickie: Post Iowa’s oral arguments and Yes On 4 holds a rally to end the 6-week ban.

IOWA SUPREME COURT HEARS ORAL ARGUMENT OVER SIX-WEEK BAN: Yesterday, the Iowa Supreme Court heard oral arguments over whether the state’s six-week ban, which has been blocked since last year, will be able to go into effect. The state of Iowa is asking the Court to reverse that preliminary injunction. It is expected that there will be a decision toward the end of the Court’s term in late June. The lawsuit was brought by Planned Parenthood Federation of America and the ACLU of Iowa on behalf of Planned Parenthood of the Heartland, the Emma Goldman Clinic, and Dr. Sarah Traxler.

“We are at a pivotal moment for reproductive rights and freedoms in this state. For now abortion remains safe and legal in Iowa. But the right to abortion is hanging by a thread”, said Ruth Richardson, President and CEO of Planned Parenthood North Central States, in a statement. “This manufactured chaos is unnecessarily hurting patients and putting their health and futures at risk. Planned Parenthood is here with you. We will continue to support patients, to stay with them, to deliver care in any way we can. We have never been more committed to providing and protecting the essential reproductive health care Iowans so desperately need.”

Read more here.

 

YES ON 4 CAMPAIGN OFFICIALLY KICKS OFF WITH A RALLY TO END THE 6-WEEK ABORTION BAN: Tomorrow at noon, the Yes On 4 campaign — the group spearheading a ballot initiative to restore and protect Floridians’ access to abortion — will hold a campaign launch rally in Lake Eola Park, Orlando. Passage of Amendment 4 will ensure that Floridians, not politicians, are able to decide what is best for their own lives and bodies by limiting government interference with abortion. Speakers will include patients and their families who have been impacted by abortion bans as well as health care providers and advocates for reproductive freedom.

Lauren Brenzel, campaign director of Yes on 4, explains: “This amendment offers a beacon of hope for Floridians living under increasingly restrictive abortion laws, including a looming six-week ban that would take this decision away before many even know they’re pregnant.” The campaign aims to send a clear message that Floridians are banding together to overturn the 6-week abortion ban, leaving the decision-making back in the hands of Florida families and their doctors. Find details of tomorrow’s rally below:

Join Floridians Protecting Freedom via live stream on Instagram here. To attend in person as a member of the press, RSVP to Caroline Korba, [email protected]. 

Planned Parenthood Action Fund, 123 William Street, 10th Floor, New York, NY 10038. Provided in-kind to Floridians Protecting Freedom.