South Dakota Governor Signs Away Women's Rights

"Only Roe stands in the way," says NOW President Kim Gandy

March 6, 2006

South Dakota Governor Mike Rounds today signed away the reproductive freedom of the women he is sworn to protect, with the specific intent of challenging and overturning Roe v. Wade and putting at risk the lives and freedom of women across the country.

"The legislature and governor want to override the most intimate decisions of women and their families, and only Roe stands in the way. Now it will be up to the voters to override them -- by voting against them in November," said National Organization for Women president Kim Gandy.

Passed by the state legislature last month and scheduled to go into effect July 1, the law bans all abortions except when the life of the woman is at stake. To the rest of the women in his state -- including survivors of rape or incest, or women whose health or fertility are at risk -- Rounds sent the message that "government knows best" when it comes to family formation decisions.

Because the law violates a woman's right to privacy as recognized in Roe v. Wade, the ban will be challenged immediately in court. A federal judge is likely to suspend the ban until a final ruling is issued; however, the stakes have now been raised and no woman in the United States could be blamed for worrying about where this clash is headed.

This is exactly the fight that right-wing zealots have been itching for -- a chance to reverse Roe and once again seize control of women's bodies and lives. Almost in concert, other states are introducing their own bans, including Mississippi, which moved forward with similar legislation last week.

If the South Dakota ban makes it to the Supreme Court, our two new justices will have the opportunity to vote to reverse Roe. If they do, every Senator who failed to filibuster the Supreme Court nomination of Sam Alito to replace Sandra Day O'Connor, and every Senator who voted to confirm Roberts, will share responsibility for what follows.

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For Immediate Release
Contact: Lisa Bennett, 202-628-8669, ext. 123; cell 301-537-7429

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