ATLANTA — During a recent campaign event in Atlanta, Vice President Harris labeled former President Donald Trump as the “architect” of a healthcare crisis resulting from restricted access to abortion, following the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision to overturn Roe v. Wade.
Harris condemned stricter abortion laws as “immoral” and criticized Republican leaders for their “longstanding neglect” regarding maternal health. “These hypocrites want to start talking about, ‘This is in the best interest of women and children,’” she remarked. “Well, where have you been? … How dare they? How dare they?
Highlighting the abortion issue on the campaign trail, Harris referenced recent reports about two Georgia women whose deaths, linked to the state’s new abortion law, were classified as “preventable” by maternal health experts. The devastating accounts of Amber Thurman and Candi Miller illustrated the troubling consequences of Georgia’s strict abortion legislation, which effectively bans most abortions with limited exceptions.
“There is a word — preventable — and there is another word: predictable,” Harris emphasized. “For every story of suffering under Trump’s abortion bans, there are countless others that remain unheard, where suffering happens every day in our country.”
Trump has publicly celebrated his nomination of Supreme Court justices who played a role in overturning the constitutional right to abortion. Thurman and Miller faced severe complications due to incomplete expulsion of fetal tissue following medication abortions, leading to tragic outcomes. Reports state that Thurman succumbed to an infection after doctors delayed treatment and Miller chose not to seek medical help due to fears surrounding the new legislative environment.
In response, some anti-abortion organizations have disputed the link between these deaths and abortion laws, attributing the issues to the Biden administration’s regulations on medication abortion. Carol Tobias, president of a prominent anti-abortion group, asserted that both women did not die due to treatment denial but rather from other systemic failures.
Republicans have also contested Harris’ narrative, accusing her of disseminating “misinformation.” A GOP spokesperson stated that Georgia’s law includes clear exceptions for critical situations, ensuring that doctors have the ability to act in medical emergencies.
This event occurs as the presidential campaign enters a crucial six-week period, with Georgia identified as a pivotal swing state. The ongoing discourse surrounding abortion rights remains a significant motivating factor for Democratic voters.
Dr. Keisha Reddick, a Savannah OB-GYN who introduced Harris, expressed grave concerns over the implications of tighter abortion restrictions, stating, “I see fear in my patients’ eyes. Women are leaving the state to obtain necessary care, and those unable to do so suffer the consequences.” Reddick highlighted Georgia’s alarming maternal mortality rates and the ongoing shortage of healthcare providers due to the current climate.
Harris also addressed abortion during a recent campaign event with a prominent figure in Michigan, with plans for a rally in Madison, Wisconsin, later this week.
