Hayley Williams, Cole Sprouse, Ariana Grande and more speak out against Alabama's abortion ban
16 May 2019, 15:59
Celebrities are voicing concerns over Alabama's new anti-abortion legislation as well as the "heartbeat" bills recently passed in other states like Georgia and Ohio. Meanwhile, the ACLU has confirmed it plans to mount a legal challenge to "stop this law from ever taking effect".
This week, lawmakers in the state of Alabama passed the most restrictive anti-abortion legislation in the entire country. This comes days after Ohio and Georgia's state legislatures passed "heartbeat" bills, which would ban abortion if a fetal heartbeat is detected.
Alabama's controversial near-total abortion ban has been criticised because it does not provide for exemptions in the case of rape or incest. Women in the United States have been able obtain legal abortions since the 1973 landmark Supreme Court Ruling, Roe v. Wade. This ruling enshrined into law a woman's right to choose what happens to her own body.
Many believe Alabama's restrictive law is a play to trigger a series of court challenges that could send the legislation all the way to the Supreme Court and challenge the constitutionality of Roe V. Wade.
Celebrities are now speaking out against the restrictive Alabama law.
Stars like Ariana Grande, Cole Sprouse, Joey King, Lili Reinhart, Aminé and others have spoken out against Alabama's anti-abortion law.
if you’re a man and you think that The Handmaid’s Tale is a well-crafted show but maybe not the best way for a modern society to operate then it’s a really good time to start speaking out against the current war on women’s bodies/minds. we need your allyship.
— hayley from Paramore (@yelyahwilliams) May 15, 2019
Paramore's Hayley Williams urged men to become allies and speak out "against the current war on women's bodies/minds."
Riverdale stars Cole Sprouse, Lili Reinhart, and Madelaine Petsch also shared information with their fans about the controversial law.
"Don't be fooled by a representative claiming to be 'protecting the life of the unborn' when it is almost always carried with a blatant disregard for the life, voice, and choice of the living woman deciding what she does with her own body," Sprouse wrote.
Lili Reinhart shared a composite photo of the men at the heart of the bill. Rihanna posted a similar image to her Instagram, writing, "SHAME ON YOU."
Ariana Grande shared a post from the ACLU
13 Reasons Why's Tommy Dorfman and The Act's Joey King, and Aminé all posted pro-choice imagery on their Instagram stories.
Alabama's new abortion laws will take effect in sixth months. Meanwhile, the ACLU has confirmed it plans to mount a legal challenge to "stop this law from ever taking effect".
BREAKING: Alabama's legislature just passed a law that criminalizes doctors and makes abortion illegal.
— ACLU (@ACLU) May 15, 2019
Abortion is NOT a crime — it's a constitutional right.
We will sue to stop this law from ever taking effect.
