Leader Sykes statement on Republican total abortion ban

House Minority Leader Emilia Strong Sykes (D-Akron) issued a statement on House Bill 480, Republican legislation aimed at criminalizing abortion in Ohio. The bill is modeled after controversial legislation in Texas that threatens doctors, women and anyone who “aids or abets” an abortion. 

“This bill is more extreme than what passed in Texas. It’s an egregious assault on women, a dangerous attack on healthcare rights and an embarrassment for our state. Ohio Republicans want to control women, but we won’t be silent,” said Leader Sykes. “Criminalizing care will disproportionately impact women of color, nonbinary people and those already at a disadvantage in our health and criminal justice system. There are plenty of things Republicans could focus on like reducing maternal mortality, paid family leave, or universal pre-k, but once again Republicans are showing that the everyday needs of Ohioans are less important than scoring political points, likes and retweets.”

The bill goes a step further than Texas's law by banning all abortions rather than only those after a fetal heartbeat is detected.