Reproductive Freedom for All Arizona held its Annual Lobby Day, urging legislators to stop undermining Proposition 139 after a Maricopa County Superior Court judge ruled the previous 15-week abortion ban unconstitutional.
During a press conference, Athena Salman, director of Arizona campaigns for Reproductive Freedom for All, urged legislators to respect that the majority of Arizonans voted in favor of reproductive rights last November.
"The GOP in Washington has wasted no time in attacking our most vulnerable communities, our fundamental freedoms and our democracy," Salman said. "The legislative majority here is working just as hard to push through their extremist agenda, proposing legislation attacking Arizonans' reproductive freedom and attempting to undermine the will of the voters."
Prop 139, which amended the state's Constitution to protect the fundamental right to abortion, passed with nearly 62% of the vote in Arizona last November.
Democratic Arizona Rep.Oscar De Los Santos of District 11 believes House Bill 2547, introduced by his colleagues Republican Rep. Lupe Diaz of District 19 and Republican Rep. David Marshall of District 7, is a "direct attack" on Prop 139.
The bill threatens Arizona's hospitals and healthcare facilities by prohibiting those receiving public funds, including Medicaid, from providing or referring patients for abortion care, according to De Los Santos.
"I have a message for those colleagues: hell no," De Los Santos said. "Democrats will not allow these extremists and out-of-touch Republicans to turn back the clock on progress."
Democratic Arizona Sen. Priya Sundareshan of District 18, said Arizona Democrats have introduced three pieces of legislation in adherence to Prop 139, emphasizing the right to contraception, in vitro fertilization and privacy.
However, Sundareshan said Republicans have blocked each one by refusing to place them on a committee agenda.
"The fight to ensure that we are all afforded the privacy and the autonomy that so many generations have fought and died for will not end here, and Democrats will not shy away from this moment," Sundareshan said
Alison Marciniak, a member of Reproductive Freedom for All, said some Republicans are still attempting to create barriers to abortion access and miscarriage care for pregnant people, ignoring voters who favored Prop 139.
She said when she found out her pregnancy was not viable, she opted for a medication-induced abortion. She later faced anti-abortion protesters trying to coerce her to go against her decision, without consideration of her circumstances.
"Their actions that day remind me of the Republicans at the legislature and what they are trying to do every single day down here — force their extremist agenda on Arizonans to further restrict the health care we need," Marciniak said.
Also in attendance was Shania Felix, the outreach coordinator of Reproductive Freedom for All at ASU and a senior studying political science. Felix said she is passionate about reproductive rights and highlighted concerns over legislative efforts to ban abortion and contraceptives.
"I believe that everyone should have the right to a legal abortion — safe and legal," Felix said. "I don't think the government should have a say in whether or not someone can access that."
Felix said although Reproductive Freedom for All at ASU is a newer club, it is focused on outreach, educating students on reproductive rights and collaborating with state organizations on women's health issues.
Marlee Valenzuela, a junior studying political science and president of Planned Parenthood Generation Action at ASU, was also in attendance to pool support for reproductive healthcare.
"It was really important for me to not only represent ASU, but also to represent Planned Parenthood," Valenzuela said. "We're all working for the same thing, trying to achieve the same thing."
She noted how the younger generation's progressive views are often underrepresented at events like these, and she said it is essential to ensure their voices are heard.
"Coming to the Capitol, being able to share your view with your representatives and your senators," Valenzuela said. "It's important to get engaged to represent the progressive vote."
Even though Prop 139 passed, Salman also said there are still about 40 restrictions on abortion that prohibit access. Salman said college students should be wary of these restrictions.
"Young people on college campuses are the ones who experience and feel the impacts first," Salman said. "Your voices are important."
Edited by George Headley, Abigail Beck, Tiya Talwar, Alexis Heichman and Natalia Jarrett.
Reach the reporter at vcruzbut@asu.edu and follow @valeriacbutron X.
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