Statement by Planned Parenthood of the Rocky Mountains on Defeat of Amendment 26

DENVER – “Tonight’s defeat of Amendment 26 in Mississippi, which was nearly identical to the personhood initiatives Colorado faced and defeated in the 2008 and 2010 elections, sends a strong signal that these far reaching anti-abortion, anti-women, anti-family measures are out of touch with the vast majority of Americans and have no place in state constitutions,” said Planned Parenthood of the Rocky Mountains President and CEO Vicki Cowart.

“Similar to Colorado’s Amendments 48 and 62, Mississippi’s Amendment 26 would have banned abortion in all circumstances by amending the state constitution to redefine the term ‘person’ to include ‘every human being from the moment of fertilization, cloning or the equivalent thereof.’  It could have also resulted in a ban on emergency contraception and common forms of birth control, including IUDs and the Pill.

“Tonight Mississippians said ‘no’ to this radical agenda that places the courts and lawyers in the middle of personal, private medical decisions families make everyday and instead voted in favor of trusting women and doctors.

“PPRM joined our Mississippi Planned Parenthood affiliate along with numerous Planned Parenthoods across the nation to get out the vote through phone-banking, door-to-door canvassing and the use of social media.

“We hope Personhood USA (the same group responsible for Colorado’s personhood amendments) will think twice before returning to Colorado with a third personhood ballot initiative.  If a ballot initiative returns, Planned Parenthood and our over 90 coalition partners will work to defeat it.”