Mississippi braces for legal fight over abortion
State Supreme Court considers 1998 case protecting abortion rights
Following the Dobbs decision, the last abortion clinic in Mississippi closed in July. Since then, a legal fight in the state courts about a 1998 ruling that established a right to an abortion under the state constitution.
The American Association of Pro-Life Obstetricians and Gynecologists challenged the ruling and asked that it be overturned in a case filed in Hinds County Chancery Court. Activists in the state will closely watch the lawsuit.
Michelle Colon, leader of Sisters Helping Every Woman Rise and Organize (SHERO), spoke with Repro RIghts Now about what has happened in Mississippi in the last half year. Women have gone to Illinois, Florida and New York for abortions.
“Outside of it being an unjust law and very oppressive and misogynistic, it hasn't stopped pregnant Mississippians seeking an abortion. All it's done is strengthen the barriers and hurdles that people have to overcome.”
The other complicating matter–as has happened in other states–is that doctors fear legal consequences when providing life-saving abortion care.
“The state basically has the medical professionals held hostage, and they are afraid to help their patient,” Colon said.
Most of Colon’s work has centered on destigmatizing abortion care. They’ve emphasized reproductive justice, which is a sensible approach given the high level of poverty in the state. Nearly 20 percent of the population lives below that line. The state still hasn’t expanded Medicaid.
Colon said it was business as usual in Mississippi. Lawmakers have tried to further limit the rights of LGBTQ groups and those who choose alternative lifestyles.
“It has not stopped the need for people seeking abortions nor stopped those who want an abortion,” Colon said. “It is forcing people to become parents. It is forcing people to carry pregnancies full term. And that's cruel. It's cruel and unusual punishment.”