ATLANTA – State Representative Renitta Shannon (D-Decatur) today issued the following statement in response to the Georgia House of Representatives’ giving final passage to House Bill 481 on Friday, March 29:
“Georgia has the highest maternal mortality rate in the United States, and yet, anti-choice Republicans are restricting access to care rather than increasing. House Bill 481 would ban abortions at six weeks before many women even know they are pregnant. It is deliberately unconstitutional, and that is the entire point. Instead of focusing on the very real challenges that Georgians face every day, anti-choice Republicans are using taxpayer dollars to wage a national fight by trying to get the U.S. Supreme Court to overturn Roe v. Wade.
“It is unconstitutional. It is unconscionable. And I will not stand idly by while it happens.
“Three weeks ago, I promised myself that if the speaker put this bill on the floor, he would have to physically remove me to get me to stop fighting against it. As a black Georgia woman who has had an abortion, I know firsthand how destructive this bill is, and I said so. I will continue to say so.
“In that time, Kentucky and Mississippi have signed into law identical six week abortion bans. It is not just Georgia – this is a national fight to protect women’s most basic right to bodily autonomy.
“Governor Brian Kemp has the opportunity to be a national leader and veto this intrusive bill. My Republican colleagues should join me in advancing legislation that improves, not hurts, women’s health and lives.
“Until they do, I will continue fighting for every Georgian’s fundamental right to make their own choices. I will continue to fight #HB481 and any bill that endangers women’s lives.”
Representative Renitta Shannon represents the citizens of District 84, which includes portions of DeKalb County. She was elected to the House of Representatives in 2016 and currently serves on the Governmental Affairs, Insurance and Small Business committees.
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