Jessica Valenti: The Arizona Tipping Point [View all]

[Nevilledog]

https://jessica.substack.com/p/the-arizona-tipping-point

Sometimes it’s hard to know which bit of abortion news will take off and infuriate the country. When Kate Cox’s story sparked national outrage, for example, I wondered why the dozens of other women with similar experiences didn’t garner the same attention. This week, it’s the Arizona Supreme Court decision enforcing an 1864 ban that’s getting wall-to-wall coverage in spite of other, similar, rulings.

So why this ban, why this story? After all, there’s a new horror to choose from daily.

In the same week that Arizona’s Supreme Court came down with their ruling, the Tennessee Senate passed a bill that makes it illegal to give a teenager information about abortion, Virginia’s governor vetoed legislation that would have prevented the extradition of abortion providers and patients, and the Supreme Court geared up for a case that will determine whether or not states can deny women life-saving abortions.

We’re living in a country where it’s now business as usual for pilots to secretly fly women out of state, so they can get the care that they need, and for abortion advocates to risk years in prison to make sure that women and children aren’t forced into pregnancy.

Multiple states are advancing bills that require public schools to include anti-abortion videos in science classes—indoctrination meant to put a dent in young people’s overwhelming support for abortion rights—while Republicans across the country try to kill ballot measure efforts so voters can’t have a direct say on the issue.

*snip*