So. Dak. people filed petition to stop abortion ban

[donsu]

http://www.tompaine.com/articles/2006/05/31/right_on_south_dakota.php


Right On, South Dakota!




Yesterday, opponents of South Dakota's sweeping abortion ban filed a petition to stop it. Weeks before the deadline and with twice the number of signatures required, the petition was delivered by a coalition of pro-choice groups called theSouth Dakota Campaign for Healthy Families. The petition clears the way for the controversial abortion ban to be decided by popular vote in the November elections.

Organizers of the petition campaign were happily surprised by their success. Sarah Stoesz, president and chief executive of Planned Parenthood of Minnesota and North and South Dakota (the fact that one Planned Parenthood serves all three states shows gives you a sense of how dismal the environment is there for reproductive rights) told the Los Angeles Times :

It proved to be extremely easy for us to gather these petitions. It underscores that the governor, the Legislature and the anti-choice movement have over-reached.

Not only would a repeal of the ban help women in South Dakota by preventing extreme restrictions on abortion from being enacted. It would also throw a wrench in the right's campaign to overturn Roe. As has been widely reported, the drafters of the law had the Supreme Court in their sites. They are hoping the ban will become law and trigger a legal challenge that will give the high court a reason to debate the right to an abortion.

I and others think the conservative movement is way out of step with American values on abortion rights. But whether the conservative movement is out of step with the Supreme Court is an open question (see yesterday's whistleblowing decision).

To find out how you can volunteer with the campaign to protect abortion rights in South Dakota, click here.
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sensible people live there after all

[BurgherHoldtheLies]

1. K&R.

Put it to a popular vote is the best outcome to come out of that horrid law. Hopefully the sane, safe-medicine people outnumber the Rapturist Right zealots.

[High Plains]

2. Speaking of safe medicine, medical marijuana will also be on

the ballot. Their petitions were certified this week.