CONTACT:

Chara Jackson, Legal Director, ACLU of Georgia, 404-431-9504;

Joseph Rose, Reproductive Justice Lobbyist, ACLU of Georgia, 770-715-3495;
 Chad Brock, Lobbyist, ACLU of Georgia, 770-303-8111; 
  

ACLU of Georgia, in Coalition with other Organizations Opposing HB 954, Urges Postponement of the Committee Hearing Citing Safety Concerns

 

ATLANTA, GA - The Senate Health and Human Services Committee is scheduled to hear debate on HB 954 today at 2:30 in room 450 of the Capitol. This meeting looks to be moving forward, even after a doctor revealed to the Atlanta Journal Constitution that he has been "advised not to speak publicly out of fear for his personal safety and threats of economic boycott" and the Georgia OB-GYN Society office was burglarized on Saturday. The news reported that the only items taken during the apparently well-planned and quickly executed break-in were the lobbyist's computers. The authorities have not stated whether the crime is linked to the lobbying efforts against the pending legislation.

"At this point, the safety concerns for those testifying may be paramount to the actual hearing. Senators on the committee may not receive the benefit of hearing from all sides. We urge the committee to postpone the hearing until the investigation of the break-in this weekend is completed," said Chara Jackson, Legal Director for the ACLU of Georgia.

The ACLU of Georgia contacted the Chairwoman of the Senate Health and Human Services Committee today and requested that the hearing be postponed until law enforcement closes the burglary case. Office staff confirmed that the hearing is still scheduled for this afternoon.

If the committee hearing continues as planned, a coalition of organizations opposed to HB 954 will host a press conference directly after the committee hearing, at 4:30 in the Rotunda of the State Capitol. All media are invited to attend.

HB 954 would not only ban abortions after the 20th week, it would criminalize them with a 1 to 10 year prison sentence for Doctors deemed to be in violation with no protection for their privacy, making them vulnerable to threats and attacks. There is no exception for incest, rape, or fetal anomaly and the medical exceptions place emphasis on the life of the fetus, not on preserving the health and safety of the woman.   HB 954 advanced out of the House without any amendments despite the testimony that HB 954 is unconstitutional for its failure to adequately protect women's health.   If passed, HB 954 will inevitably reverse legally protected rights.

For more information on HB 954 visit http://www.acluga.org/Legislationtracking2012.html 

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