South Carolina Senate Tries to Outlaw Abortion, Democrats Stop Them With Desperate Filibuster
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Republicans in the South Carolina state Senate had the bright idea to write up a bill that would outlaw all abortions in the state (with the exception of cases involving rape, incest, or danger to the mother’s life), and they had the numbers to pass it. Which doesn’t mean, of course, that it would have immediately become law—legislative and legal obstacles remained. But it would have been a huge step to criminalizing a woman’s sovereignty over her own body, and it appeared all but inevitable that it would move forward.
Faced with that reality, the Democratic minority did the only thing they could—they filibustered. For two straight days:
State Sen. Marlon Kimpson, D-Charleston, held the floor for upwards of six hours as he filibustered the measure Thursday. He turned over the podium to state Sens. Margie Bright Matthews, D-Walterboro, and Fanning, who carried on the effort through the rest of the evening.
The vote to finally end the debate came close to 1 a.m. Friday morning.
It’s a rare “victory” for Democrats in the south, who are outnumbered in virtually all state houses, and though the bill isn’t dead, it’s been dealt a severe blow.
The abortion ban in SC is no longer. After hours of filibuster, the bill has now been recommitted to committee. Women will continue to have the right to choose and make their own personal decisions about their bodies in consultation with their faimilies and doctors.