North Dakota Reactionaries Wreak Mayhem on Abortion Rights

Apr 1, 2013

Hundreds protested on March 25 in Fargo, North Dakota as state legislators passed the most restrictive anti-abortion laws in the country. The governor signed these bills into law immediately.

Included was an especially draconian “fetal heartbeat law,” banning all abortions at roughly six weeks, the point at which an invasive vaginal ultrasound might detect a fetal heartbeat. The abortion option will be closed earlier than a woman may even know she is pregnant!

Because Roe v. Wade allowed for restrictions on abortion, the strategy of Taliban-like legislators in North Dakota is to increase restrictions until abortion is effectively outlawed.

New restrictions include: a ban on abortion for a “genetic abnormality”; a requirement that doctors have inpatient hospital privileges to perform outpatient abortions; a law banning medication-induced early abortions; and a measure to put a “personhood” constitutional amendment on the state ballot, giving a fertilized egg legal rights.

“North Dakota politicians are now leading what appears to be a nationwide competition among anti-choice extremists to see who can do the most to strip women of their ... autonomy and endanger their lives,” said Nancy Northrup of the Center for Reproductive Rights.

According to Slate Magazine, “If North Dakota’s new abortion bans go into effect, it could create an 800-mile section of the Great Plains with no legal abortion provider.”

Court battles are planned by advocacy groups to overturn the legislation. North Dakota has deep pockets if there is a long legal fight. The state has nearly a two billion dollar budget surplus, due to a current oil boom.

According to the North Dakota governor who signed the bill: “This bill is ... a legitimate attempt by a state legislature to discover the boundaries of Roe v. Wade.”

No, governor, this attack on women and their right to self-determination is illegitimate and repulsive!