Abortion Advocates are Asking for Volunteers in the Fight for Women’s Reproductive Rights

Planned Parenthood advocates for safe, legal access to women's health services for all. (Photo by Robert Perrell)

Columbia, SC. On December 11, 2019, there will be a volunteer interest meeting hosted by the advocacy group, Planned Parenthood Votes South Atlantic. The meeting will be held at 2712 Middleburg Drive, Suite 103 in Columbia, SC at 6 PM. The non-profit organization hopes to mobilize local volunteers in the fight against anti-abortion legislation in South Carolina such as H.3020, otherwise known as the Heartbeat Bill.

Planned Parenthood Votes South Atlantic is a 501(c)4 social welfare organization that promotes the encouragement of informed choice in reproductive health care. They also advocate public policies which support a woman’s right to choose and provides access to non-discriminating forms of care. Other issues where this organization hopes to make a difference include Medicaid expansion, social equality, sex education and voting rights.

The fight against anti-abortion legislation primarily involves women’s rights and the idea of bodily autonomy, but for the secular community, it also represents the fight against rampant religious ideology. The push for fewer reproductive rights stem from evangelical protestants that view abortion as “murder”, which has led to legislation that take away basic human rights. Currently, these forms of legislation are becoming more common and are being pushed through state and local governments at an alarming rate. If viewed through this lens, the idea behind these anti-abortion legislations is unconstitutional as they represent deviation from the first amendment.

“Congress shall make no law respecting the establishment of religion or prohibiting the free exercise thereof…” -First Amendment to the United States Constitution

A law based solely on religious beliefs would fall under this category and represent the opposite of what the Founding Fathers had in mind when they formed our government. Fighting back against this kind of overreach should be a priority for the secular community and having allies with organizations like Planned Parenthood Votes South Atlantic, represent an opportunity to combat multiple injustices all at once.

However, this can only be accomplished through action, and that is why it is imperative that the secular community attend the meeting on December 11. There have already been examples of pushback from more progressive forms of religion and together, the combined strength of these groups along with the secular community should provide ample support against the threats posed to women’s reproductive rights, governmental overreach and religious tyranny.

For more information on the meeting taking place on December 11, please visit this link. And for more news and information on the secular community please follow on Twitter, @Secular Shepherd.