Rally at HHS Demanded #JusticeForJane Ahead of Hearing
For Immediate Release: Oct. 20, 2017
Washington, D.C. - The Trump administration is blocking a young immigrant woman in detention from accessing an abortion. Identified as Jane Doe, to protect her privacy, this young woman, age 17, who likely faced countless dangers and hardships in her journey across the border, is being held hostage by a government that refuses to accept her constitutionally protected rights. Importantly, Jane Doe has already fulfilled onerous Texas’ legal requirements to obtain an abortion.
Before oral arguments began in the court of appeals this morning, Planned Parenthood Federation of America, American Civil Liberties Union, the National Latina Institute of Reproductive Health, NARAL Pro-Choice America, the National Partnership for Women & Families, and coalition partners stood up in opposition of this gross injustice to send the message that access to safe and legal abortion is a constitutional right for all -- no matter who you are or where you're from.
“Reverend Daniel Kanter, a clergyman and member of Planned Parenthood’s Clergy Advocacy Board, stated: I can’t understand why people of faith aren’t outraged as federal funds are used to persecute and deny services to the most vulnerable in their hour of need,” Kanter said. “We’re calling for religious freedom, but religious freedom is freedom from the state. It’s not for the state to make decisions about people’s bodies. This woman needs our help. She is one of the most vulnerable people we can imagine … I’m calling on people of faith to consider this deep and meaningful moment to stand up and speak out.”
“‘The constitutional right to abortion does not depend on your immigration status,’ said Georgeanne Usova, legislative counsel for the ACLU. Usova said the group wasn’t just fighting for “this young woman, but every woman in government custody’.”
“The pregnant teenager faces a “cruel clock that is ticking rapidly,’ said Bethany Van Kampen, a policy analyst for the National Latina Institute for Reproductive Health, given that Texas prohibits most abortions after 20 weeks. ‘Where is the voice for Jane? Where is the humanity for Jane?’ she said.”
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