[Official statement issued from Jackson Area National Organization for Women (NOW)]

The battle for reproductive freedom is a human rights struggle that includes all matters of equality and social justice. Reproductive justice connects the similarities amid sexism, poverty, racism, xenophobia and homophobia in achieving undivided human rights.

As an organization with a strong pro-choice foundation, Jackson Area National Organization for Women (NOW) stands firm on reproductive freedom. The need for safe legal abortion services for the women of Mississippi is critical since they already face tremendous obstacles in obtaining comprehensive sex education, birth control and emergency contraceptives. We are committed to preserving a woman’s right to choose.

Currently, Mississippi has some of the most restrictive laws in place. Lawmakers seem to believe that women and girls are incapable of making important decisions about their bodies and their futures and wish to deny them medically safe access to reproductive services.  The government has no right to dictate what happens to a woman’s body. If abortions were illegal, thousands of women would end up victims of unsafe abortions, resulting in death.   History shows that laws against abortion have little or no effect on the number of abortions.  Outlawing abortion is discriminatory for lower-income women.  Safe, legal abortion services protect women’s health.   

With a 34-5 passage (18 non-voters), SB 2795 will institute universal healthcare for Mississippians in that it guarantees that the state will be financially responsible for the medical care and educational needs of children born to its citizens as of July 1, 2007. The Jackson Area Chapter of the National Organization for Women greatly supports universal health care, yet not in the form of an abortion ban.  Pro-Choice activists are invited to join us Tuesday, February 13, 2007 for NOW Capital Action Day.