FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Press Office
Dakotans for Health
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55,000 South Dakotans’ Voices to Be Heard Despite Bizarre Right-to-Life Campaign Attempts to Block Vote on Abortion Rights
August 14, 2024
Sioux Falls, SD...“Freedom Amendment G to write abortion access into the South Dakota Constitution is on the ballot as of today,” said sponsor Rick Weiland, following the South Dakota Secretary of State’s August 13th notification to county auditors that the amendment will be included in the upcoming election.
“Despite the radical Right to Life/Decline to Sign campaign first trying to prevent citizens from signing our petitions, then to con them into removing their signatures, and now to block a vote in court, the clock has run out. Today, the South Dakota Secretary of State certified our amendment to county auditors for inclusion on the ballots they will print, and the desperate effort to deny South Dakota voters the chance to decide on abortion ends,” Weiland said.
“The days of the total abortion ban that requires women who have been raped to carry to term and terrifies doctors who are just trying to provide proper medical care to their patients are numbered,” said Weiland. “South Dakotans believe in freedom. Government telling women they are required to give birth is the exact opposite of freedom,” Weiland said.
“Over 55,000 South Dakotans signed the petition to put Amendment G on the ballot, thanks to the tireless efforts of hundreds of dedicated volunteers over two long years. Now it’s up to us to tell the politicians, loud and clear, that we and our doctors should decide— and that’s exactly what we’re going to do,” Weiland predicted.
“We know that National Right to Life plans to flood our state with anti-abortion dollars because they think we are so Republican they can finally win an abortion ballot measure here. But they are badly mistaken. South Dakota Republicans believe in individual freedom. Many oppose abortion, but very few believe in handing the rights of women and their doctors over to politicians and the government. South Dakota will reject the radical Right to Life’s total abortion ban precisely because we all share the core Republican belief in the freedom of the individual from excessive government interference,” Weiland said.
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About Dakotans for Health:
Dakotans for Health is a grassroots organization focused on healthcare and protecting the democratic process. The organization was instrumental in the successful 2022 campaign to expand Medicaid coverage to 52,000 low-income South Dakotans. Dakotans for Health will continue its efforts to ensure our neighbors have access to the care they need, no matter who they are, what they look like, or how much money they have.
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