Abortion Action Missouri
JEFFERSON CITY – On Wednesday, April 9th, the House Committee on Children and Families held a public hearing on the latest attack on Amendment 3, HJR 73. More than 70 Missourians from all across the state traveled hours, took off work, arranged childcare, and spent their hard earned money on gas to attend the hearing scheduled to begin at 4:30pm and on 24 hour notice. Additionally, more than 1400 Missourians submitted their opposition online.
Committee Chair Representative Holly Jones (R-88) permitted only five of the more than 70 Missourians in the room to testify and used security to kick them all out of the room when they pushed back. Joined by House Democrats, Abortion Action Missouri and the crowd of constituents gathered in the Capitol rotunda to be heard in what they dubbed The People’s Hearing. Missourians shared their stories of accessing abortion care and helping pass Amendment 3 and demanded their rights—respecting everyone’s time and space to speak.
Statement from Mallory Schwarz, executive director: “Shame on power-hungry politicians like committee chair Representative Holly Jones who treat the honor of their leadership positions as a license to disrespect and disregard the very people they were elected to serve. Missourians don’t want politicians interfering in access to abortion. And last night the anti- abortion politicians on this committee and in this Capitol proved again their lack of compassion, and their outright disdain for the will of the people. Right now, thanks to hard-working Missourians, abortion is legal and available in Missouri for the first time in nearly a decade and it will be Missourians who protect and defend those rights.
Whose House? Our House. The People’s House.”
People looking for accurate information about secure access to and support for abortion care right now can find it at INeedAnA.com and ReproLegalHelpline.org.”