In response to the newly passed HB 314 bill in Alabama, model, actress, and women’s activist Emily Ratajkowski took to Instagram to protest the bill’s signing and share her thoughts on the matter.
The highly-controversial HB 314 bill — which was signed into law by Alabama governor Gov. Kay Ivey on Wednesday, May 15 — bans all forms of abortion “except when the life of the mother is in danger.” Under this new law, abortion is illegal even when involving cases of rape and incest.
Ratajowski is just one of many prominent female celebrities to voice their displeasure with the state of Alabama’s new law.
“This week, 25 old white men voted to ban abortion in Alabama even in cases of incest and rape. These men in power are imposing their wills onto the bodies of women in order to uphold the patriarchy and perpetuate the industrial prison complex by preventing women of low economic opportunity the right to choose to not reproduce,” her Instagram caption begins.
“The states trying to ban abortion are the states that have the highest proportions of black women living there. This is about class and race and is a direct attack on the fundamental human rights women in the US deserve and are protected by under Roe vs. Wade. Our bodies, our choice,” Ratajkowski concludes.
In addition to banning abortions, bill HB 314 also criminalizes the performance of abortions. Under the new law, performing an abortion is now classified as a Class A felony while attempting to perform an abortion is now a Class C offense.
Ratajowski was just one of many famous celebrities to voice their disgust with the new law.
Halsey said the new law “sends a sickening rage through my core”.
“Watching the demise of our reproductive rights sends a sickening rage through my core. Autonomy is the basis of our humanity. The ability to feel and the right to choose,” Halsey tweeted.
The new law has not necessarily received widespread approval from all Republicans, either, as Republican House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy (California) said in a statement on Thursday that he opposes the new law, stating that it “goes further than I believe.”
“I believe in exceptions for rape, incest, and life of the mother, and that’s what I’ve voted on,” McCarthy said to reporters on May 16.