The Mississippi “Personhood” Amendment: Attacking Women’s Health and Rights
Amid a nationwide onslaught of attacks on women’s health and constitutionally protected reproductive rights, the Mississippi “personhood” amendment, aka Initiative 26, is unquestionably the most extreme.
Proponents of recognizing every fertilized egg as a person admit this
measure is intended to ban all abortions—including in cases of rape. But
it would go much further:
- Outlawing many forms of birth control—including IUDs, emergency contraception, and even some forms of the Pill.
- Putting doctors and women at risk of criminal prosecution for doing nothing more than engaging in routine OB-GYN care.
- Potentially halting many forms of infertility treatment—including IVF.
- Opening women to potential criminal prosecution for suffering miscarriages.
The Center for Reproductive Rights strongly opposes this proposed amendment. We have already pledged to challenge it in court if it passes next Tuesday, November 8, and we have appeared in a number of media outlets urging voters to oppose the measure.
Learn more about this dangerous ballot measure through our media resources—then pledge to stand with us against Initiative 26.
PBS: Religion &, Ethics Newsweekly
Friday, November 4, 2011
Interviewee: Nancy Northup
Summary: Proponents insist Mississippi’s Amendment 26 is not so much about abortion as it is about the sanctity of human life.
But if passed, the Amendment could make any abortion in the state murder, drawing the wrath of abortion rights advocates like Nancy Northup of the Center for Reproductive Rights. “This measure is blatantly unconstitutional and we’ll be looking to stop it with the constitutional protections of the court.” Play now >,
CNN
Newsroom
Monday, October 31, 2011 at 2:30pm
ET
Interviewee: Jordan
Goldberg, State
Advocacy Counsel
Summary: CNN debates both sides of a controversial
abortion-related ballot initiative set for Mississippi voters. Play now >,
The
Diane Rehm Show (WAMU)
Monday, October 31, 2011 at 10:00am ET
Interviewee: Suzanne Novak, Senior Staff Attorney in the U.S. Legal Program
Summary: Mississippi will ask
voters next week to decide whether to give legal status to fertilized human
eggs. If the ballot measure is approved, abortion would become tantamount to
murder. And in vitro fertility clinics and popular methods of birth control could
be outlawed. Many observers deem it one of the gravest assaults on women’s
reproductive rights in decades. Similar efforts to redefine
“personhood” are in the works in several states. Colorado voters
twice defeated personhood initiatives recently. But many expect the Mississippi
measure to pass. Play now >,
On Point with Tom Ashbrook
(WBUR)
Monday, October 31, 2011 at 10:00am
ET
Interviewee: Nancy Northup,
President and CEO
Summary: The abortion battle goes deep next
Tuesday in the state of Mississippi. Voters there go to the polls to decide
whether to write into the Mississippi constitution an amendment stating that
life begins at conception. Sperm meets egg and you would have a legal person.
It would make abortion in any circumstance virtually impossible under the law.
Backers of the so-called “personhood” movement hope to take it national. Use it
to batter down Roe v Wade. Mississippi may be their first big victory. Play now >,
