Abortion activists, including many supporters of Planned Parenthood, took over the Wisconsin Capitol building Wednesday as Republicans rejected Governor Tony Evers’ (D) call to repeal the state’s 173-year-old criminal abortion ban during a special session, a move that ensures the procedure will be illegal in the state if the U.S. Supreme Court overturns Roe v. Wade.
“Wisconsin law has not changed and our pro-life position has not changed,” said state Senate Majority Leader Devin LeMahieu (R-Oostburg), in a statement. “Killing innocent babies is not health care.”
Evers had called for a special legislative session to repeal the state’s abortion ban, signed into law in 1849 but unable to be enforced since the U.S. Supreme Court created a right to abortion in 1973 in Roe v. Wade.
“We must act now to protect the health and safety of Wisconsin women and to ensure abortions remain safe, legal and accessible in our state,” Evers said in a statement, reported The Cap Times.
State lawmakers, however, are not required to act on any bills during a special legislative session.
Republicans gaveled in and adjourned within moments.
Planned Parenthood Advocates of Wisconsin wore pink as they screamed and yelled in the Capitol rotunda.
Human Events Senior Editor Jack Posobiec referred to the champions of abortion who took over the Capitol building as “insurrectionists”:
WATCH: Planned Parenthood insurrectionists scream inside Wisconsin state capital as GOP upholds 173 year-old law criminalizing abortion pic.twitter.com/h9tylNJfHc
— Jack Poso 🇺🇸 (@JackPosobiec) June 22, 2022
Abortion advocates in Milwaukee even organized a campaign to light up the Hoan Bridge in Planned Parenthood’s “pink” hue in response to the Republicans’ refusal to consider a repeal of the Wisconsin pro-life law.
Pro-choice advocates in Milwaukee mobilized Wednesday evening in response to the state senate's inaction at the special session.https://t.co/pt4NICKSzO
— CBS 58 News (@CBS58) June 23, 2022
Pink Out The Hoan for access to abortion! pic.twitter.com/mnlMWOkOFL
— Planned Parenthood Advocates of Wisconsin (@PPAWI) June 23, 2022
Tanya Atkinson, President & CEO of Planned Parenthood of Wisconsin, said, “I feel the energy, I feel the momentum, I feel the power,” reported CBS58 News.
Several Twitter users questioned whether pro-life activists would have been granted permission to light up the bridge for their cause:
Just curious…..does the pro life group get access to the bridge lights?
— Robert John (@rjollman) June 23, 2022
Hmm, hypothetically if any part of the Hoan Bridge construction and/or maintenance is funded by state or public tax dollars then I would surmise that after yesterday's lighting statement, then anyone can light the Hoan Bridge for whatever cause or reason they request- right?
— Jon Miller (@jrmxjrm) June 23, 2022
When can we expect to see lights for prolife?
— John Doe (@John1950Doe) June 23, 2022
Pro-life organization Students for Life Action (SFLAction) condemned Evers’ attempt to overturn the state’s existing protections for preborn babies and generated an email and telephone campaign to urge Republican lawmakers in Wisconsin to gavel out of the special session quickly.
“It’s clear that Governor Evers is more concerned with scoring political points from the abortion lobby ahead of his November election than upholding policies that save preborn children and protect women,” said Dustin Curtis, SFLAction executive director. “We are closely monitoring state abortion laws as we prepare for a post-Roe America and legislators who stand against life will have a rude awakening during their primaries.”
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Susan Berry, PhD, is national education editor at The Star News Network. Email tips to [email protected].
Photo “Wisconsin Capitol Abortion Protest” by Jack Posobiec.
