| Choice USA Applauds SD Pro-Choice Efforts |
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Campaign to repeal SD abortion ban collects double the required signatures to refer it to the ballot in November FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE June 1, 2006 CONTACT: Rebecca Wiegand (o) 202-965-7700 (m) 202-427-7450 Choice USA congratulates the South Dakota Campaign for Healthy Families for its hard work defending South Dakota women and families’ reproductive choices. On Tuesday, the Campaign announced it has collected 37,846 signatures in support of repealing the ban on all abortions. This is more than double the 16,728 signatures required to refer the ban to a ballot vote in November. Crystal Plati, Executive Director of Choice USA issued the following statement in response to this achievement: “South Dakotans have shown they refuse to accept a law that disregards the health of women, the well-being of families, and their rights to personal privacy.” “This is yet another example of the South Dakota legislature neglecting the health and rights of its residents – especially young people. This ban joins a long list of laws that negatively affect the state’s youth; such as those that require mandatory parental involvement in abortions for minors, restrict access to contraception, and deny comprehensive sexual education in South Dakota public schools.” The ban on nearly all abortions was passed by the 2006 South Dakota legislature. The campaign has collected more than enough signatures to refer the ban to the ballot in November. Choice USA is proud that as a result of South Dakotans’ efforts, the abortion ban’s effects will be delayed until the people can have their say in a vote on this issue in November. # # #
Choice USA mobilizes and provides ongoing support to the diverse, upcoming generation of leaders who promote and protect reproductive choice both now and in the future. We are dedicated to the right of each person worldwide to decide when and if they will have sex, when and if they will be pregnant, and when and if they will have a child. In order to make those personal decisions, accurate information and safe, legal reproductive health services must be available to everyone.
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