The brief submitted by attorney’s on behalf of the Mississippi Abortion Access Coalition argue the state’s 15-week abortion ban infringes on a woman’s fundamental reproductive rights. Valencia Robinson is founder of Mississippi in Action and among the leaders of some eight organizations in the coalition. She says the government has no place in a woman’s healthcare choices.
“We’re looking at if they’re coming for our reproductive choices, especially abortion, what else will they come for next, would it be our birth control?" said Robinson.
The brief contends the ban will disproportionately affect low income women, people of color, the disabled and the LGTBQ community because of less access to health care. They say these are marginalized groups that often have low wage jobs and no health insurance.
“If you really want to influence those decisions you would start with actually making sure that people have the financial and material resources they need to thrive,” said Robinson.
Laura Duran, the former president of Pro-Life Mississippi says they do help women who need financial assistance and encourage adoption. She’s pleased the high court is taking up the issue in December.
“They are at least giving us this foothold and opportunity for a change, that’s what we pray, that there will be a change. Abortion will not be available as such as it is today,” said Duran.
Valencia Robinson says if Roe v. Wade is overturned, women will still seek abortions and may do harm to themselves in the process. National reproductive justice organizations have also signed onto the brief.
During the 2021 legislative session lawmakers failed to pass a bill that would have extended Medicaid coverage for women after pregnancy from two months to one year.
