Sioux Falls, SD— Today, South Dakota Governor Noem announced in her 2022 State of the State Speech that she will be pursuing a 6 week abortion ban this legislative session, banning abortion before most people even know that they are pregnant.
Noem’s announcement comes as recent polling shows that South Dakotans do not want more restrictions placed on abortion.
While abortion is safe and legal today, abortion is already very inaccessible to South Dakotans. South Dakota has some of the most restrictive and hostile abortion laws in the country.
STATEMENT FROM KRISTIN HAYWARD, MANAGER OF ADVOCACY & DEVELOPMENT FOR PLANNED PARENTHOOD MINNESOTA, NORTH DAKOTA, SOUTH DAKOTA, ACTION FUND:
“We know most South Dakotans support the right to safe, legal abortion but Governor Noem is confusing abortion procedures, spreading misinformation, and leading a vocal minority to take away our reproductive freedom.
Abortion is essential health care, and we will fight to keep it available in our state. We can’t allow a small, extreme group overrule expertise of medical professionals and the will of a strong majority of South Dakotans who want to keep reproductive health services legal, safe, affordable, and accessible.
It’s important to keep in mind that: most abortion patients are parents, most have low incomes, many work inflexible minimum-wage jobs, and about 10% are suffering intimate partner violence.
By taking away the ability to prevent pregnancy and chipping away at the right to abortion, we are in a new era of reproductive health care where individuals may be forced to carry a pregnancy against their will. This is unconscionable. The decision about if or when to become a parent is a decision each South Dakotan should make for themselves- not politicians.
Be assured that Planned Parenthood will always stand up for our patients and communities. It’s up to us to fight back and make sure our representatives actually represent the will of South Dakotans."
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Founded in 1992, the Planned Parenthood Minnesota, North Dakota, South Dakota Action Fund is an independent, non-partisan, non-profit organization. As the advocacy and electoral arm of PPMNS, we mobilize supporters of all parties to defend and increase access to family planning services and fact based, medically accurate sexuality education. We work to inspire and engage citizens to take up the cause of reproductive health and rights through education, electoral activity, grassroots organizing and legislative advocacy.
Visit us at www.plannedparenthoodadvocate.org
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