State laws in the U.S. that ban abortion are continuing to endanger people around the country, implementing draconian levels of control that frequently push pregnant people into harm's way. This includes both by restricting access to life-saving medical care - and by
criminalizing people who suffer the already agonizing tragedies of stillbirths or miscarriages.Kentucky is one of these states. It has a statewide abortion ban that only provides exceptions if the parent's life is in serious danger, sometimes - but even then, the state adds a variety of hurdles to overcome. And there are
no exceptions for victims of rape or incest. Ultimately, this means it is
nearly impossible to get an abortion in Kentucky - and it means the state punishes people harshly if a pregnancy ends.
It also means that anyone who suffers from an unintended termination of a pregnancy - through miscarriage or stillbirth - is at risk of being called a monster and arrested as a criminal.Sign the petition to demand that Kentucky repeal its abortion ban!Kentucky drew international attention last year when it
arrested a young woman, charging her with manslaughter. She had previously posted online about her excitement to become a mother and desire to have children. But then, it appears she may have suffered a miscarriage or possibly a stillbirth, resulting in tragedy.
We don't know the full details of her case, because Kentucky authorities have refused to disclose more. But we do know they're attempting to paint her as a villain.
This is similar to what's happened in other severely restrictive states as well. In 2023 in neighboring Ohio, a woman's doctor told her that her fetus was unviable - and in fact, they were right. She later came to the hospital with intense pain and bleeding, but doctors didn't interfere, due to fears of running afoul of the state's abortion ban.
Two days later, the fetus miscarried into the toilet. After she returned to the hospital, a nurse informed the police, who
recovered the miscarried fetus's remains and then charged her as a criminal for supposed "abuse of a corpse."Other women in Kentucky have shared their experiences with nearly dying before doctors were willing to provide essentially reproductive medical care.
These are the types of stories that will continue to emerge, unless Kentucky lawmakers overturn their near-total abortion ban. Even faith leaders are speaking out against the horrors this ban is causing!
Together with doctors, faith leaders are joining to urge lawmakers to repeal the ban and restore proper access to reproductive healthcare, including abortions.
As one medical student explained
during a rally: "The harsh reality is that many people with wanted pregnancies need an abortion to protect their own safety and well-being. Abortion is often not a choice. It is about survival."
Sign the petition to demand that Kentucky reverse its abortion ban! These short-sighted restrictions actually endanger people's lives by frightening doctors out of providing life-saving care, and by criminalizing people who have miscarriages or stillbirths! 