a “crucial” vote for the right to abortion in Arizona

The image is no longer surprising. Like almost every day, anti-abortion activists, rosaries in their hands, gather in front of this Phoenix clinic that has been practicing voluntary termination of pregnancy for 23 years. These women try to challenge the patients to make them change their minds. “We love babies, we don’t want them to be massacred”says Lynn, 78, full of hope as the midterm elections approach, “the most important we’ve ever had”, she says.

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Tuesday, November 8, American voters completely renew the House of Representatives, part of the Senate but also 36 governorships as here in Arizona, in the Southwest of the United States. “I hope that Kari Lake, the Republican candidate will be elected governorcontinues Lynn. She is ‘pro-life’ (anti-abortion)”. The septuagenarian only wants one thing, a total ban on abortion.

At the reception of the clinic, a young woman is forced to turn around. The schedule is already complete and it is barely 8 am. The queue forms well before opening. Twelve abortions are performed on average per day, says Dr. Gabrielle Goodrick, director of the center. She had to suspend her activity for two weeks at the beginning of the summer. In June, after the Supreme Court revoked the jurisprudence which guaranteed the right to abortion to United States, an Arizona court seized the opportunity to enforce a law from another century. “A law of 1864 which prohibits abortion except to save the life of the patient”, is in despair Dr. Goodrick who still can’t believe it. This text prohibits abortion even in cases of incest or rape and provides for penalties ranging from two to five years for anyone helping a woman to have an abortion.

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The legal battle led by the American Planned Parenthood – which appealed the local court’s decision – froze the situation. And while waiting for justice to decide by the end of the year, another law applies. Abortion is prohibited beyond 15 weeks of pregnancy. But as Arizonans head to the polls, Dr. Goodrick worries: “The right to abortion is one of the issues of these elections”. She acknowledges that Republican candidates are less zealous these days in calling for a total ban because they know a majority of voters don’t want it. “But if they are elected, I’m sure they will push for a total ban because these candidates are radical.”

“In 30 years of living here, I have never experienced such a crucial election that can affect my patients, my team and me directly.”

Gabrielle Goodrick, director of an abortion center in Phoenix

at franceinfo

If abortion becomes illegal in Arizona, Gabrielle Goodrick won’t abandon her patients, she will put them in touch with clinics in California. She promises, “whatever happens, we will face it”.