Women are entitled to a womb of their own—a womb that they, and only they, control.
However, since January 2019 abortion rights have been more endangered than at any time since the Supreme Court decided Roe v. Wade in January 1973. In Georgia, Alabama, Missouri, and Ohio, state legislatures have passed “heartbeat” laws banning abortion from the moment a heartbeat can be detected—usually at six weeks. The Alabama law allows no exceptions for rape or incest. A bill introduced in Georgia would permit women who miscarry to be investigated; a bill introduced in Texas would permit doctors who perform abortions or women who undergo abortions to be executed.
You don't own me
Don't try to change me in any way
You don't own me
Don't tie me down 'cause I'd never stay
I don't tell you what to say
I don't tell you what to do
So just let me be myself
That's all I ask of you...
Senator Kamala Harris is deeply concerned about preserving abortion rights. After the Alabama law passed, she undertook to raise money for their defense.
A policy statement from her campaign website indicates how Kamala Harris would move to safeguard abortion rights if elected president: “Similar to the preclearance requirement of the Voting Rights Act, Harris will require, for the first time, that states and localities with a history of violating Roe v. Wade obtain approval from her Department of Justice before any abortion law or practice can take effect.”
From supporting California residents’ rights to fact-based information about women’s reproductive services, to supporting repeal of the Hyde Amendment, to repudiating the current administration’s imposition of the “gag rule” that forbids doctors to refer women for abortions, Kamala Harris has defended women’s rights to reproductive health care. If elected president she will promote laws to ensure women’s health and safety, from abortion rights to maternity care.
That said, we are still faced with the larger question as to why so many hostile forces are arrayed against women’s rights. Why aren’t women allowed to make decisions about their bodies in private? Why should anyone other than those concerned—physician and patient—have any say in the matter at all?
In her 2015 essay, “Why Organized Religion Fears Educated Women,” Shanna Babilonia states:
The three largest religions on our planet are all patriarchal religious establishments. They were created by men, for the benefit of men. This has created a human imbalance for nearly every society on earth. But, there are some who insist on maintaining that imbalance by putting man in the place of a god-like being, while ascribing an inferior role to women.
Babilonia goes on to say:
Patriarchal religious organizations have engaged in a human mental trap for millennia that attempts to keep humankind dependent on its doctrines by controlling the minds and actions of women…It all begins in the mind of a girl. A girl who grows into a woman, who has a child who she teaches the only thing she knows—to trust the patriarchal religion that has kept her in mental chains since the moment she was born.
If a woman has no right to control her own body, any other “rights” are illusory. If patriarchs can take away that most basic of all rights, then the right to vote, the right to drive, the right to hold a job and maintain a bank account, will be the next rights to be revoked.
In conclusion, the case for the right to a womb of one’s own was made very simply by Elly Lonon in an op-ed titled “I had an abortion. It’s none of your business why.” In the May 27, 2019 edition of The Washington Post she wrote:
I am an adult of sound mind and body. My government has decreed me capable of voting, of operating motor vehicles, of purchasing firearms, of paying taxes. Why is this irrational line drawn at body autonomy?...
[]
I had an abortion, and I need no one’s forgiveness. Nor should I need your permission. In defending reproductive rights, we should refrain from framing the argument around the most extreme and saintly of cases in the hope of converting more supporters. When we pander to find circumstances under which abortion becomes palatable, we dilute the simple message that body autonomy should be a right regardless of gender….
There are about 70 million reasons to support Kamala Harris for President!
Newpioneer has rounded up some highlights of her sponsored legislation here.
snowman3 has rounded up some more legislative highlights here.
Want to know more about her positions and plans? Her policy page is Our America.
Or go straight to an issue: quality, affordable health care for all, economic justice,raising teacher pay, combating the climate crisis, criminal justice reform, action on gun violence, a fair and just immigration system, LGBTQ+ equality, government for the people, debt-free college and student debt, gender equality, American leadership at home and abroad, and fighting for racial justice.
Upcoming Events
June 21: Kamala will be at Rep Clyburn’s Fish Fry in Columbia, South Carolina
June 22: Kamala will participate in Planned Parenthood’s forum on reproductive rights in Columbia, South Carolina.
June 26-27: The first debates will be held in Miami, Florida, and will be broadcast live on NBC, MSNBC and Telemundo. Kamala Harris will be in the June 27 group.
July 30-31: The second debates will be held on July 30th and 31st in Detroit, Michigan, and will be broadcast live on CNN
Sept 12-13: The third debates will be held on September 12th and 13th, and will be broadcast by ABC and Univision.
Please remember to visit our community group page Kamala2020 and give us a follow! That way all our group efforts will appear in your stream; this makes it easy for everyone to keep up with our latest posts. As always, any who would like to join our group please leave us a comment and we’ll get your invitation right out to you!
If you’d like to volunteer to host one of our Kamala 2020 diaries, please leave your comment in the ”Calling all Volunteers”thread.
Even if you can’t commit to a weekly spot due to your busy schedules, guest bloggers are always welcomed!
Next week’s schedule
Please volunteer! Come share your story about why you support Kamala!
Sunday, June 16 — Diana in NoVa
Monday, June 17 —Onomastic
Tuesday, June 18 — Desert Scientist
Wednesday, June 19—Diana in NoVa
Thursday, June 20— Denise Oliver Velez
Friday, June 21 — snowman3
Saturday, June 22 —rflctammt
Sunday, June 23—Dfh1
Let your voices be heard!
*Please remember this is a Kamala2020 group effort, & not a Daily Kos sponsored activity or endorsement.
While you’re here, don’t forget to visit Kamala’s Official Campaign Website and her Swag Shop for your favorite campaign gear! 😄
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Group Guidelines
The Kamala2020 community group has been created to positively support Senator Kamala Harris, and not to engage in negativity towards other Democrats running in the 2020 primaries.
All should be made to feel welcomed here. What’s not welcomed here is petty bickering over any of our preferred candidates, or personal attacks on fellow Democrats. We’re not responsible for the actions of others who may offend, insult or attempt to sow discord and disunity — that’s on them.
What we are responsible for are our own words and actions — that’s 100% on us.
I’d like to ask all group members, as well as those dropping by who support or are interested in Kamala’s bid for the nomination, that we not respond to negativity from other campaign’s supporters with even more negativity. Let’s do better than our best and respond with respect, humor or try to hold our peace. Recipes and cat pics work, too 😃
Doing no harm costs us nothing... pie-fights will cost us everything.