An Ohio Pro-Life group, Ohio Right to Life, responded on Friday to a piece of legislation introduced by U.S. Congresswoman Emilia Sykes (D-OH-13) that aims to penalize pro-life pregnancy resource centers while encouraging more violence and vandalism towards them.
On Thursday, Sykes (pictued above) introduced the Stop Anti-Abortion Disinformation (SAD) Act which directs the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) to “prohibit unfair or deceptive advertising related to the provision of abortion services and authorizes the FTC to enforce these rules and collect penalties from organizations in violation.”
Sykes claims that crisis pregnancy health centers market themselves as having comprehensive reproductive health care but refuse to perform abortions and thus the FTC should penalize them.
“As access to reproductive health is restricted and attacked across the country, this legislation will ensure Americans have the freedom to make informed healthcare decisions that are best for them,” Sykes said.
According to Ohio Right to Life Director of Communications Elizabeth Marbach, she finds it abhorrent that Sykes is willing to deprive women of practical care and resources in order to further her political objective.
“Real families depend on these pregnancy centers to survive. As a woman, I find it despicable that she is willing to rob women of tangible care and resources to advance her political agenda. We invite Rep. Sykes to visit any of the centers here in Ohio to see first-hand the work being done to support those in need,” Marbach said.
This legislation comes less than a week after an abortion extremist group Jane’s Revenge attacked an Ohio Pregnancy Center, Bowling Green Pregnancy Center, threatening that “if abortions aren’t safe, you’re not either.”
The group has vandalized hundreds of pro-life pregnancy centers throughout the nation after the Supreme Court overturned Roe v Wade in June 2022.
The Counter Extremism Project, which keeps databases on extremist and terrorist organizations throughout the world, refers to Jane’s Revenge as a “militant pro-abortion rights group.” The organization also claims that Jane’s Revenge is responsible for numerous arson and acts of vandalism across the nation.
PRCs and other pro-life organizations have seen more than 250 documented cases of violent assaults, vandalism, and death threats since last year. These incidents include many fire bombings.
According to Marbach, instead of Sykes condemning this attack she encourages more violence and vandalism by the introduction of this legislation.
“This legislation is a complete dog whistle to encourage more violence and vandalism against pro-life pregnancy resource centers. Just last Saturday, an Ohio clinic was attacked by abortion extremists with hateful messages, and instead of the Congresswoman condemning the attack, she praises it by introducing this bill,” Marbach said.
This legislation comes at a time when Ohio Pro-life advocates are working tirelessly to stop a proposed constitutional amendment that would legalize abortion throughout the state.
– – –
Hannah Poling is a lead reporter at The Ohio Star and The Star News Network. Follow Hannah on Twitter @HannahPoling1. Email tips to [email protected]
Photo “Emilia Sykes” by Emilia Sykes. Background Photo “U.S. Capitol” by Henry A.
