In the year after the U.S. Supreme Court dismantled the constitutional right to abortion in June 2022, more than 200 pregnant women faced criminal charges for conduct associated with their pregnancy, pregnancy loss or birth, according to a new report. The report was produced by Pregnancy Justice, a nonprofit that advocates for the rights of […]

In the year after the U.S. Supreme Court dismantled the constitutional right to abortion in June 2022, more than 200 pregnant women faced criminal charges for conduct associated with their pregnancy, pregnancy loss or birth, according to a new report.

The report was produced by Pregnancy Justice, a nonprofit that advocates for the rights of pregnant people, including the right to abortion. Researchers in multiple states documented 210 cases of women being charged for pregnancy-related conduct in 12 states from June 24, 2022, to June 23, 2023, the first year after the U.S. Supreme Court eliminated the constitutional right to an abortion, throwing the issue to the states.

The majority of charges alleged substance use during pregnancy; in two-thirds of cases, it was the only allegation made against the defendant. Six states — Alabama, Mississippi, Ohio, Oklahoma, South Carolina and Texas — accounted for the majority of cases documented by researchers.

  • lennivelkant@discuss.tchncs.de
    0·
    23 days ago

    While I’m not sure the idea is practical, I would be curious to see it play out.

    What starts as a few cases of women disappearing would become a pattern. Allegations of abduction would be leveled as pretense to seek, arrest and prosecute all that help them leave. Meanwhile, by the power of the Internet, it would be quickly found out where these women fled to. An underground counter-stalking network would emerge, seeking to steal back the women. Eventually, another civil war might break out, this time over women’s right to control their own fate.

    History might not repeat, but it may well rhyme.

    • NatakuNox@lemmy.world
      0·
      22 days ago

      Just a couple things…

      Of course a modern underground rail road would function different than the one 300 years ago.

      Legal adults don’t need to notify anyone that they are moving. Ya is a shitty thing to do but a simple letter or phone call after is fine for loved ones. Pro birthers have no idea how to actually stop abortions that doesn’t involve progressive actions like comprehensive sex education, cheap and free contraception, paternity leave, raising the standards of living, etc… Because their goals are to subject women and to ensure that there’s always a poor, unhealthy, uneducated, and subservient population. Outside of having check points in and out of the state and knowing every women’s current pregnancy status it’s impossible.

      Multiple normal states have already passed laws that protect women from any persecution for laws restricting their bodily freedoms. Mine included. And Ya they can try to take the women back but theres no way to tell why a woman left. It’s way easier to move a willing person over someone who is surrounded by a supportive community. I’d imagine this organization would help LGBTQ+ people escape as well.