The Mississippi legislature has led the way in passing restrictive abortion bans in an effort to bring the issue before the U.S. Supreme Court according to Staci Fox. She is president of Planned Parent of the Southeast, which represents Mississippi, Georgia and Alabama.
The 5th Circuit Court of Appeals struck down the state’s 15 week abortion ban last year and a 6 week ban this year. Mississippi then asked the high court to hear the cases. Fox is concerned the death of Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg tilts the court even more to the right.
“Well I’m here for the fight. That’s how I feel. I think the bottom line is, it’s not what Mississippians want. It’s not what southerners want. It’s not what American’s want. I mean poll after poll shows us that the majority of Americans do not want Roe v. Wade overturned and want women to have access to safe and legal abortion,” said Fox.
The vacancy on the high court has reignited the abortion issue. President Trump says he will announce his pick to fill the seat on Friday, instead of waiting until after the November elections. State Senator Angela Hill of Picayune is an outspoken opponent of abortion. She was one of the authors of the six week abortion ban. Hill supports the president’s decision to nominate the next justice.
“People are realizing that that’s a life and that life has merit. And that’s kinda where we are and I think that if we have a chance to have somebody other than Ruth Bader Ginsburg hear that case then I think that’s a good thing,” said Hill.
Pro-Life Mississippi, a non-profit organization opposed to abortion will be holding it’s 40 Days for Life campaign beginning Wednesday. They’ll have prayer vigils in Jackson, in front of the state’s only abortion clinic.
