ACLU and Center for Reproductive Rights File Challenge Against Arkansas Abortion Ban

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT: (212) 549-2666; media@aclu.org

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. – The American Civil Liberties Union, the ACLU of Arkansas, and the Center for Reproductive Rights filed a lawsuit today asking the court to block an Arkansas law that would ban almost all abortion care starting at 12 weeks of pregnancy.

"This law is one of the most dangerous assaults on women's health that we've seen in decades," said Rita Sklar, executive director of the ACLU of Arkansas. "We may not all agree about abortion, but we can all agree that this complex and personal decision should be made by a woman, her family, and her doctor, not politicians."

Last month, the Arkansas legislature overrode Gov. Mike Beebe's veto of the law. At the time, it was the most severe abortion ban in the country. A week later, North Dakota passed a ban that applies so early in a pregnancy that many women may not even know they're pregnant.

"The Arkansas law is one of the worst, but around the country politicians are trying to eliminate access to abortion care and to interfere with a woman's ability to make the best decision for herself and her family," said Talcott Camp, deputy director of the ACLU Reproductive Freedom Project. "Now is the time for all of us who care about women's health in this country to tell our elected officials that we won't stand for this political intrusion into our personal and private decisions."

The Arkansas ban is currently set to take effect July 18.

For more information, please visit: www.aclu.org/reproductive-freedom/beck-v-edwards