By: Nick Harper
A U.S. study released last month estimates that 64,000 women and girls became pregnant from rape in states that have implemented abortion bans. The research has reignited the debate about a women’s right to choose. But anti-abortion groups in one of the most restrictive states say the data presented in the study is flawed.
By: Isabella Bass
“We bring in host committee organizations from all over the state who partner with us,” said communications director for Texas Alliance for Life Amy O’Donnell. “This year, we had over 60 organizations from across the state of Texas who joined us in putting this event on today.”
Speakers included 40 Days for Life Director of Medical Affairs and Education and Former Abortionist Dr. Haywood Robinson, M.D., Students for Life Texas Regional Coordinator Faith Elwonger, and Pregnancy Center of the Coastal Bend Executive Director Jana Pinson.
O’Donnell described one of the goals of the event as being to keep pro-life legislators in office, especially during upcoming election seasons.
“One of the things that we work hard to do is to educate Texans, and that includes doctors,” O’Donnell said. “We put out a lot of information in that regard.”
By: Tan Radford
“We have so much to celebrate,” Dr. Ingrid Skop, vice president and director of medical affairs at the Charlotte Lozier Institute, said from the podium. “It is estimated that approximately 10,000 babies are alive in Texas today who would not be if the state of Texas had not chosen to support unborn life.”
By: Jef Rouner
Texas Alliance for Life has been oddly silent since the release of the study, sending out a single tweet saying, “A child conceived in rape does not deserve to be killed for the crime of his father.” Though the rally promises to promote the “vast resources” available for pregnant Texans, speakers include representatives of the Charlotte Lozier Institute, a radical anti-abortion think tank that promotes misinformation, such as that fetuses can experience pain at 15 week (the current scientific consensus is 23-24 weeks)
By: Adela Uchida
“That’s a tall order. If we could only truly eliminate rape, we definitely have penalties in the state of Texas or for people to be brought to trial who do rape people,” said Amy O’Donnell, spokeswoman for the Texas Alliance For Life. She says they support the lack of a rape exception in the Texas ban. “We stand in support of protecting all babies, even those conceived through the act of rape, and every child no matter the circumstance of their conception is worthy of life,” she said.
By: Jessica Taylor
Amy O’Donnell with the Texas Alliance for Life says their attorneys do not believe they can ban interstate travel. She also says there’s a lot of misinformation about medical exceptions they’re working to combat.