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Transcript/ScriptBORTION TEXAS (TV/R)
HEADLINE: Leaked Court Opinion Pushes Abortion Rights Supporters, Opponents to Ramp Up Efforts
TEASER: Texas law seen as model by many abortion opponents preparing for Court decision giving states rights to regulate procedures
PUBLISHED AT:05/08/2022 at 2:50 p.m.
BYLINE: Deana Mitchell
DATELINE: Austin, Texas
VIDEOGRAPHER: Deana Mitchell
VIDEO EDITOR:
PRODUCER: Deana Mitchell
SCRIPT EDITORS: Michelle Quinn, SKS, Mia Bush,
VIDEO SOURCE (S): VOA, AP, AFP, Reuters, ABC
PLATFORMS (mark with X): WEB __ TV _X_ RADIO _X_
TRT: 3:06
VID APPROVED BY: Reifenrath
TYPE: TVPKG
EDITOR NOTES: Written-through re-issue of April 3 story))
((INTRO:))
[[The U.S. Supreme Court may overturn federal protections for abortions, according to a leaked draft of an opinion expected in the next few months. That would leave the legal status of abortion up to individual states. For VOA, Deana Mitchell reports from Texas, where women are not permitted to have abortions beyond six weeks of pregnancy.]]
((NARRATOR))
Amy, a spoken-word poet, recently had an abortion. And it was not easy task. The divorced mother of a 3-year-old said she barely had time to think once she realized she was pregnant — because she is in Texas.
((NARRATOR))
In September, the state enacted the most restrictive abortion law in the U.S. Amy, who declined to give her last name, knew she had just days to do it all — make her decision, find a place to get an abortion, and then go through with it.
((Amy, Had an Abortion))
“I don't even think I had gotten the results from the pregnancy test, and I was already googling "where to get an abortion in Texas" just so that I could have the option.”
((NARRATOR))
Amy’s experience in Texas may soon become reality for more women in the U.S. if the Supreme Court allows states to decide how to regulate abortion. Such a decision would overturn a 1973 ruling in which the court said pregnant women have a Constitutional protection to have an abortion without excessive government restriction.
Oklahoma last week (May 3) enacted a law modeled on Texas rules prohibiting abortion once a fetal heartbeat is detected, which is around six weeks of pregnancy for most women.
((NARRATOR))
The reality for many women is an even shorter deadline. Amy had less than a week to decide. After many phone calls, she was able to get into a clinic.
((Amy, Had an Abortion))
“I didn't even have time to assess my own thoughts, I felt the clock ticking.”
((NARRATOR))
But for anti-abortion activists, this type of time constraint is a big step in the right direction.
[[For RADIO only: Joe Pojman is the Founder of Texas Alliance for Life, an anti-abortion organization.]]
((Joe Pojman, Texas Alliance for Life))
“Our goal is to make a society such that no woman would even consider having an abortion because she feels there are no alternatives. We do have vast alternatives.”
((NARRATOR))
Instead of seeking an abortion, Pojman wants pregnant women to visit Texas’ nearly 200 crisis pregnancy centers like this one. The centers help women make doctor’s appointments and offer things like canned goods until the child is 2-and-a-half to 3 years old. Pojman says it’s all a big step in the right direction, but that much more work is needed.
((Joe Pojman, Texas Alliance for Life))
“While the number of abortions has substantially decreased and women are seeking more agencies that provide alternatives to abortions, there're still tens of thousands of abortions in Texas going on.”
((NARRATOR))
Poorer women are struggling most with the new law, say abortion rights advocates.
[[For RADIO only: Sarah Wheat is a spokesperson for Planned Parenthood]]
((Sarah Wheat, Planned Parenthood))
“Once they find out and are informed that Texas law prevents them from accessing an abortion right here as they're sitting already in our health center, it's too much, the barriers are too great.”
((NARRATOR)) ((BROLL: Graphics Treatment))
Each month between September and December of last year, a University of Texas study says 1,400 women went out of state for an abortion.
((Amy, Had an Abortion))
“Women are going to get abortions. They've done it for centuries, even when they were fully illegal and that’s how women died from abortions, so if you take away this decision, you’re ultimately just taking away women’s lives.”
((NARRATOR))
Those who oppose abortion say abortions take human lives, too. It is a difficult debate, no matter the perspective, that is now at the forefront of much campaigning for congressional and gubernatorial elections as Americans await the Supreme Court decision.
((Deana Mitchell for VOA New, Austin Texas))
NewsML Media TopicsArts, Culture, Entertainment and Media
NetworkVOA
Location (dateline)Austin, Texas
VIDEOGRAPHER: Deana Mit
Embargo DateMay 8, 2022 12:19 EDT
Byline((Deana Mitchell for VOA New, Austin Texas))
Brand / Language ServiceVoice of America - English
