Women protest anti-abortion bills in Va. by locking arms, standing mute outside state Capitol

[maddezmom]

By Associated Press, Published: February 20




RICHMOND, Va. — Hundreds of women stood mute, arm-in-arm, forming a human cordon through which legislators walked before Monday’s House and Senate sessions to protest a wave of anti-abortion legislation coursing through Virginia’s General Assembly.

Capitol and state police officers, there to ensure order, estimated the crowd to be at least 1,000, perhaps 1,500 at the noon peak of the protest.

The silent demonstration was over bills that would define embryos as humans and criminalize their destruction, require “transvaginal” ultrasounds of women seeking abortions, and cut state aid to poor women seeking abortions.

Molly Vick of Richmond said it was her first time to take part in a protest, but the issue was too infuriating and compelling. On her lavender shirt, she wore a sticker that said “Say No to State-Mandated Rape.” Just beneath the beltline of her blue jeans was a strip of yellow tape that read “Private Property: Keep Out.”

more: http://www.washingtonpost.com/local/arm-in-arm-women-line-capitol-square-sidewalks-and-stand-mute-protesting-invasive-measures/2012/02/20/gIQARqjdPR_story.html

[Rex]

1. This is nothing more then state sanctioned rape.

I still cannot believe anyone would support this!!! It is outragous and a very dangerous precedent to set imo. I had to look up what 'transvaginal' ultrasounds meant and when I saw the diagram...my eyes fell out of my head and rolled around behind the sofa!

So what happens to the first woman that says NO? Will she be arrested?

This is controlled insanity.

This is what the word WRONG means.

[La Lioness Priyanka]

2. well said!

[Rex]

4. Thanks!

I swear to you I never thought this country could get any more fucked up then when GWB was in office.

What is the federal government going to do? Oh right...the 5 guys up front in suits.

[OKNancy]

3. Here is an interesting editorial titled: Va.'s Ultrasound Bill Is Unconstitutional

Virginia state legislators passed a bill requiring women to receive an ultrasound — which is conducted via transvaginal probe in the first 12 weeks of pregnancy — before having an abortion. Dahlia Lithwick, senior editor for Slate magazine, calls the proposed law "an abomination."

http://www.npr.org/2012/02/21/147203580/op-ed-va-s-ultrasound-bill-is-unconstitutional

On the page you can listen to the NPR interview

[maddezmom]

5. from LBN: Virginia Governor Backs off Ultrasound Bill

Virginia Governor Backs off Ultrasound Bill


RICHMOND, Va., Feb. 22 (UPI) -- Virginia Gov. Robert McDonnell backed off his unqualified support for a bill requiring women to have an ultrasound before an abortion, his office said.

At the same time, state lawmakers worked behind the scenes to soften the measure, The (Norfolk) Virginian-Pilot and The Washington Post reported.

McDonnell, who campaigned as an opponent of elective abortion, initially said he would sign the measure if it made it to his desk. He now will no longer make that commitment, his office said.

"Our position is: If the General Assembly passes this bill the governor will review it, in its final form, at that time," spokesman Tucker Martin said in a statement cited by the Post.

Martin declined to explain the reason for McDonnell's change. The governor can sign, veto or amend the legislation.



http://www.democraticunderground.com/101457897