South Dakota Anti-Abortion Forces Working to Overturn Roe vs. Wade

Interview with Nancy Keenan, president of NARAL Pro-Choice America, conducted by Melinda Tuhus

On Feb. 24, the South Dakota legislature passed a bill that bans abortion in all cases except to save the life of the mother. Republican Gov. Mike Rounds has said he'll probably sign it. The law is a direct challenge not just to the Roe v. Wade, U.S. Supreme Court ruling that legalized abortion in 1973, but to legal abortion itself. And that's the point. Lawmakers are counting on the measure, if the governor signs it, ending up at the Supreme Court. There, they are hopeful of overturning Roe, since anti-abortion justice Samuel Alito replaced Sandra Day O'Connor, whose swing vote usually sided with abortion protections.

The right to abortion has been narrowed significantly over the 33 years since Roe v. Wade was decided. Restrictions have been imposed including: parental and spousal notification and prohibition of "late" term abortions. The so-called "partial birth abortion" procedure is currently being reviewed by the Supreme Court, despite rulings from three separate appeals courts that banning the procedure is unconstitutional.

Between The Lines' Melinda Tuhus spoke with Nancy Keenan, president of NARAL Pro-Choice America, about this latest attack on abortion rights, what her organization is doing about it, and why the issue goes beyond abortion to all women's reproductive rights.

Contact NARAL at (202) 973-3000 or visit their website at www.prochoiceamerica.org

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"Between The Lines" is a half-hour syndicated radio news magazine that each week features a summary of under-reported news stories and interviews with activists and journalists who offer progressive perspectives on international, national and regional political, economic and social issues. Because "Between The Lines" is independent of all publications, media networks or political parties, we are able to bring a diversity of voices to the airwaves generally ignored or marginalized by the major media. For more information on this week's topics and to check out our text archive listing topics and guests presented in previous programs visit: http://www.btlonline.org

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