New York Democratic Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez said the reason that regulatory abortion legislation is sweeping across the U.S. is becuase “religious fundamentalists are working hard to outlaw sex that falls outside their theology.”
Ocasio-Cortez tweeted the comments Thursday morning in reference to “abortion bans” that she says “aren’t just about controlling women’s bodies. They’re about controlling women’s sexuality. Owning women.”
But then, she suggested banning abortion was part of a larger conspiracy by religious people to ban sex.
Abortion bans aren’t just about controlling women’s bodies.
They’re about controlling women’s sexuality. Owning women.
From limiting birth control to banning comprehensive sex ed, US religious fundamentalists are working hard to outlaw sex that falls outside their theology.
— Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (@AOC) May 16, 2019
The congresswoman was apparently responding to the news that Republican Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey has signed the state’s near-complete abortion ban into law after Ohio, Georgia and Missouri passed similar “heartbeat” abortion legislation.
Alabama’s “Human Life Protection Act” would effectively ban all abortions in the state — with the exception of those assessed to be necessary “in order to prevent a serious health risk.” (RELATED: Alabama Rep Argues For Abortion Access: ‘Kill Them Now Or Kill Them Later’)
U.S. President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump chat with Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey … March 8, 2019. REUTERS/Mike Theiler
In another Thursday morning tweet, Ocasio-Cortez called banning abortion “a brutal form of oppression,” Opponents of abortion see it as a brutal form of birth control. (RELATED: Why Are So Many Democrats Supporting Or Quiet On Late-Term Abortion? They Owe A Lot To Planned Parenthood)
Pro-life marchers rally at the Supreme Court during the 46th annual March for Life in Washington, U.S., Jan. 18, 2019. REUTERS/Joshua Roberts
Ultimately, this is about women’s power.
When women are in control of their sexuality, it threatens a core element underpinning right-wing ideology: patriarchy.
It’s a brutal form of oppression to seize control of the 1 essential thing a person should command: their own body.
— Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (@AOC) May 16, 2019
Similarly, Independent Vermont Sen. and 2020 presidential candidate Bernie Sanders tweeted Wednesday that “abortion is a constitutional right.” No one running for the Democratic presidential nomination has taken a pro-life stance.
California Sen. Kamala Harris tweeted, “I’m sick and tired of these attacks on women’s rights,” and urged her followers to donate to a pro-abortion group. Mayor Pete Buttigieg retweeted a declaration that “abortion is a human right.” New York Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand announced on Twitter: “Shout it from the rooftops: Reproductive rights are human rights.” Former Texas Rep. Beto O’Rourke called Alabama’s virtual abortion ban “dangerous efforts” that he vowed to fight.
The Democratic-controlled House of Representatives has been promoting pro-abortion policies, including an effort to repeal the Hyde Amendment that prohibits most tax-payer funded abortions.
