PPAWI Cites Urgent Need for Question to Repeal Criminal Abortion Ban on April Ballot
For Immediate Release: Jan. 23, 2023
Call to action comes on 50th Anniversary of Roe vs. Wade Decision
Planned Parenthood Advocates of Wisconsin (PPAWI) calls on people to support the urgent need to add an advisory referendum to the April ballot to repeal Wisconsin’s dangerous criminal abortion ban.
Statement from Tanya Atkinson, president of Planned Parenthood Advocates of WI
“Wisconsin is facing a medical emergency that warrants direct action from voters on restoring access to safe and legal abortion. Our Republican leaders have a responsibility to hear from and act on the wishes of the people in Wisconsin.
Today, pregnant women, including those who have serious health conditions, pregnancy complications, devastating fetal anomalies as well as those who are victims of rape, incest and domestic abuse, are being forced to travel across state lines or remain pregnant.
Physicians who have taken an oath to do no harm are having to deny their patients needed medical care and we are seeing the chilling effect of this law on our ability to train, attract and retain high quality physicians with expertise in reproductive health care.
Doctors who have been trained to protect the health and safety of their patients are seeing the dangers of exacerbating the maternal health crisis here in WI where black women are already dying five times more from pregnancy related complications than white women. Last week, the Gender Equity Policy Institute released their findings that mothers in states with abortion bans are nearly 3 times more likely to die and infants born in states with abortion bans were 30% more likely to die.
This is a medical emergency.
We can put this issue to rest without any further doubt by giving voters the opportunity to directly weigh in on repealing the criminal abortion ban so we can restore access to safe and legal abortion in Wisconsin.
Real people are hurting – our medical community is struggling – it's time to take action. The health, well-being, safety, and freedom of our communities is at stake.”
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Planned Parenthood Advocates of Wisconsin is the advocacy arm of Planned Parenthood of Wisconsin. PPAWI engages in legislative and educational activity and works to elect candidates to office that support these goals.