Vice President Kamala Harris, in a fiery speech in Atlanta on Friday, denounced stricter abortion laws across the United States as immoral and accused Republicans of longstanding neglect over maternal mortality rates. Harris, the Democratic presidential nominee, specifically referenced two recent deaths in Georgia, highlighting the predictable suffering of women under restrictive abortion legislation.
Georgia’s Strict Abortion Law
Georgia has recently passed a law that effectively bans most abortions, allowing exceptions only for cases of rape, incest, and when the life of the mother is at risk. Harris’s remarks came in response to a ProPublica investigation detailing the stories of Amber Thurman and Candi Miller, two women whose deaths were deemed preventable by a state maternal health committee following complications from attempted abortions under the new law.
Preventable and Predictable Suffering
Harris emphasized that the suffering of women under these restrictive laws is both preventable and predictable. She criticized those who advocate for these laws, questioning their commitment to the well-being of women and children, stating, How dare they? Come on.
Trump’s Role and Supreme Court Decision
Harris blamed former President Donald Trump for the current health care crisis, labeling him the architect of the rollback of abortion access that followed the Supreme Court’s decision to overturn Roe v. Wade. Trump has previously celebrated his role in the appointment of Supreme Court justices who supported the overturning of the constitutional right to abortion.
Medical Complications and Legal Barriers
The ProPublica report detailed how Thurman and Miller both suffered medical complications after medication abortions, with Thurman’s death occurring after a delay in treatment for an infection and Miller dying at home without seeking medical care due to fears related to Georgia’s abortion legislation.
Anti-abortion Groups’ Response
Some anti-abortion groups have contested the link between these deaths and the state’s abortion laws, instead blaming the Biden administration’s more lenient regulations around medication abortion. Carol, a representative from an unnamed anti-abortion group, stated that Thurman and Miller did not die due to a lack of treatment but rather because of the Biden administration’s abortion policies.
Harris’s remarks and the tragic stories of Thurman and Miller underscore the ongoing debate over abortion rights and access in the United States, with implications for women’s health and autonomy.
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