INDIANAPOLIS – Hoosier Women Forward Board Chair State Representative Cherrish Pryor released the following statement after today’s passage of Senate Bill 1, which creates a near total abortion ban in the state of Indiana.
“Despite opposition from the majority of Hoosiers, the Indiana legislature today passed Senate Bill 1 – a bill that is not about being ‘pro-life,’ but about controlling women.
If Republicans truly cared about Hoosiers’ quality of life, they would have adopted one of the many Democratic amendments to this bill – or bills Democrats have presented for years – that covered hospital costs for victims of rape or incest, protections for children who are victims of rape or incest, pregnancy accommodations, or tax breaks for breastfeeding supplies and other items of vital need to new mothers. They would have supported measures to address racial disparities in the care of pregnant women.
This is a dark day, but the fight is not over. Women, and all those who care about preserving democracy, will remember in November. The history of reproductive rights in our country should serve as a warning that women will not accept being treated like second class citizens. Now is not the time to give up – it’s time to engage, organize, and work to make sure those we elect reflect the will of their constituents. Hoosiers deserve equal and thoughtful representation, our future depends on it.”
Hoosier Women Forward is a Section 527 nonprofit political organization. To learn more about the nonprofit, you can go to www.hoosierwomenforward.org.