Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez speaks out against 'horrifying' abortion bans: 'This is about women's power'
A new wave of abortion legislation in Georgia and Alabama — with the latter state ruling out exemptions for cases of rape or incest — has prompted outrage and calls to action from those who are pro-choice. Alyssa Milano has urged women to go on a sex strike in protest, Busy Philipps is encouraging those who, like her, have had an abortion to share their stories and activists are calling for donations to support organizations like Planned Parenthood and The Yellowhammer Fund.
While Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez has spoken out against abortion restrictions in the past, the freshman congresswoman posted two tweets late Wednesday night decrying the new bans. The lawmaker took aim at “U.S. religious fundamentalists,” accusing them of trying to “own” women by “controlling women’s bodies” and “controlling women’s sexuality.”
She went on to blast the abortion legislation as a “brutal form of oppression” that undermines “women’s power.”
Ultimately, this is about women’s power.
When women are in control of their sexuality, it threatens a core element underpinning right-wing ideology: patriarchy.
It’s a brutal form of oppression to seize control of the 1 essential thing a person should command: their own body.— Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (@AOC) May 16, 2019
Her remarks divided commenters. Many agreed with her feminist take.
I need you to save the day because this can’t actually go on. We as women need to unite and do something because there’s no way we can allow them to take that form of control 😭
— Daddy (@inyourdreamssox) May 16, 2019
Welcome to Gilead. #HandmaidsTale #RoeVWade #MyBodyMyChoicePeriod #MyBodyMyChoice #HB314
— Eileen Winters (@eifc7) May 16, 2019
PREACH, @AOC!! ???????🏼?🏼?🏼
— 𝑀𝒾𝓈𝑔𝒾𝓋𝒾𝓃𝑔𝓈 (@lacunalingua) May 16, 2019
Even in the despair of these time, it is amazing to see a sitting member of Congress speak this kind of truth. Thank you.
— Impeachy Keen (@amberahumphrey) May 16, 2019
You can guarantee if men carried the babies this wouldn't even be an issue.
— Trish (@livingwithnofil) May 16, 2019
Per usual, however, critics also had something to say. Anti-abortion commenters rushed to condemn Ocasio-Cortez’s statements.
“Our control over our bodies doesn’t equal the right to kill a child,” anti-abortion activist Lila Rose responded. “My sexual choices do not include a choice to kill.”
Yes. A fetus should be in control of their own body but the brutal form of oppression being pushed by liberals has the major underpinning of power over others. The difference is that Republicans believe in defending the rights of the defenseless.
— Brian Bambl (@BrianBamIt) May 16, 2019
Abortion bans are about saving innocent lives.
— Megan McDaniel (@meganmcd38) May 16, 2019
Killing an infant is not my idea of birth control or women’s health.
— Bob Reetz (@reetzman) May 16, 2019
Earlier on Wednesday, Ocasio-Cortez called Alabama’s new Human Life Protection Act — signed that day by Gov. Kay Ivey — “horrifying.”
This law would force children - 12 year olds - to carry a pregnancy by their rapist.
This law would force people w/ mental disabilities to carry pregnancy by rape to term.
This law forces people to be pregnant against their own consent. It’s horrifying.— Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (@AOC) May 15, 2019
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