Rep. PPH Capitol Updates: Leaked SCOTUS Opinion Sparks Pro-Choice 'Bans Off Our Bodies' Protests

Season 2, Episode 10 of A View from the Left Side focuses on the fight to maintain abortion rights in the United States. [This podcast was recorded before the June 24, 2022 Supreme Court decision on abortion.]

Senator Nancy Barto brags that Arizona is the #1 "Pro-Life" state in the country. That's because, for years, Arizona Republican politicians have followed the extreme anti-abortion agenda laid out by Cathi Herrod of the Center for Arizona Policy. Barto often sponsors these repressive reproductive rights bills, like the recent 15 week abortion ban.

If the Supreme Court of the United States (SCOTUS) strikes down the landmark abortion rights case, Roe v Wade, in the coming weeks, Arizona's  "Pro-Life" label will come back to haunt many residents as they find their right to body autonomy removed by state law.

Arizona Republicans passed the contentious 15 week abortion ban in 2022, but there are many abortion-related laws on the books. Some Territorial Era statutes criminalize doctors and patients for abortion. Controlling reproductive rights and sexuality are popular topics for Republican legislation. Rep. Walt Blackman is running for Congress on a strong anti-abortion platform and has made at least three campaign-style anti-abortion speeches on the Floor of the House this year.

If Roe goes down, the women of Arizona should brace themselves for an onslaught of more repressive laws from the Republicans, as long as they control the government. Arizona currently has 61 places in statutes that mention "abortion," but ZERO statutes that limit the reproductive rights of men. That is obviously state-based discrimination against women. Arizona needs a statewide Equal Rights Amendment. 

Abortion care is NOT a states' rights issue. A person's reproductive rights should not change when they cross state lines. The government has no right to meddle in a person's medical, financial and family planning decisions. Will people move out of repressive states like Arizona, Texas, Mississippi and Florida -- or just not move in? Arizona touts sunshine and low taxes, but it also soon will have forced pregnancy and no water.

The US Senate should dump the filibuster and protect reproductive rights (and voting rights). The filibuster is a roadblock to progress. It's time for systemic change to save our country.

Bans Off Our Bodies Rallies Nationwide

In May and June, there were rallies and marches around the country to protest this ideological strike against women's rights and body autonomy by a Supreme Court packed with appointees from a discredited President.

The second half of the podcast includes two of the speeches from the Tucson Bans Off Our Bodies rally on May 14, 2022 -- one by Congressman Raul Grijalva and the second one by State Senator Stephanie Stahl Hamilton. Grijalva calls out Arizona Senator Kyrsten Sinema for clinging to the filibuster and for ignoring reproductive rights and voting rights. Rev. Stephanie's speech will bring tears to your eyes. 

The age, gender, ethnic and racial diversity of the Tucson crowd shows the diversity of the abortion rights issue. An estimated 1000 people showed up for the Tucson rally. 

Time Stamps
Season 2, Episode 10 Introduction  | 0:42
PPH Commentary: Abortion Care Severely Limited in Arizona if SCOTUS Strikes Down Roe v Wade June 8, 2022  | 1:26
Bans Off Our Bodies Rally at Armory Park in Tucson May 14 2022  | 6:16
Congressman Raul Grijalva's remarks at Bans Off Our Bodies Rally  | 7:16
Grijalva calls out Senator Kyrsten Sinema for her support of the filibuster  | 8:56
State Senator Stephanie Stahl Hamilton's remarks at Bans Off Our Bodies Rally  | 11:46
Rev. Stephanie says Nothing good can come from government-mandated pregnancies!  | 13:22