A 12-year-old girl has been praised for her impassioned speech slamming the US abortion ban, having asked a hearing: “Does my life not matter to you?”
Following the Supreme Court’s decision to overturn the Roe v Wade ruling, medical professionals, activists and citizens gathered in West Virginia yesterday (27 July) expressing their concerns at a public hearing about abortion policies currently under consideration for the state.
This included young Addison Gardner from Buffalo Middle School in Kenova, who posed a number of hard-hitting questions to lawmakers.
She told the West Virginia House of Delegates: “I’m 12 years old. I attend Buffalo Middle School, I play for varsity volleyball and I run track. My education is very important to me, and I plan on doing great things in life.
Advert
“If a man decides that I’m an object, and does unspeakable, tragic things to me, am I, a child, supposed to carry and birth another child? Am I to put my body through the physical trauma of pregnancy? Am I to suffer the mental implications? A child who had no say in what was being done with my body?
“Some here say they are pro-life. What about my life? Does my life not matter to you?”
After receiving a couple of cheers from the room, Gardner was told that her time was about to run out.
But her brief speech had a huge effect on others, with many people praising the schoolgirl’s bravery and eloquence on such a difficult topic.
Advert
One tweeted: “Way to go! Thank you for having the courage to speak today. You are going to go places!”
Someone else said: “’The lady's time is over’? Her time is NEVER over! She makes cry.”
Another called her a ‘hero’, while a fourth added: “Bravo to her for speaking up.”
Lawmakers are currently considering House Bill 302, which would prohibit almost all abortions, with exceptions for a non-viable foetus, medical emergencies and ectopic pregnancies.
Advert
The hearing saw people given just 45 seconds to speak, with Metro News reporting that some ended up having to be escorted out after running over their allotted time.
Charleston pastor Philip Dunn said: “I believe that life is precious from the tomb to the womb. I believe that we need to understand all life is precious.”
The next speaker, Margaret Chapman Pomponio, executive director of West Virginia Free, agreed that life is precious - but argued things aren’t always so clear-cut.
Advert
She told the hearing: “I’m pro birth. I’m pro abortion. I’m pro baby. I’m for bodily autonomy, and I’m for motherhood, fatherhood and parenthood.
“These terms and labels aren’t mutually exclusive and they are only as complex as we are - we as compassionate West Virginians, who understand that life is full of nuances, gray areas, beautiful ironies, mistakes and complications. This abortion ban deals in absolutes and denies our humanity and our humanness.”
For help, support and advice about abortion, contact the National Abortion Federation on 1-800-772-9100, EST 8am-7pm EST Monday to Friday or EST 8am-4pm EST Saturday to Sunday.
Topics: US News
Jess Hardiman