California Governor Gavin Newsom has initiated a bold campaign to challenge proposed legislation in multiple Republican-controlled states aimed at restricting out-of-state travel for abortions and related medications.
Under the banner of a multistate ad campaign and online petition effort, Governor Newsom seeks to confront bills like the one under consideration in Tennessee, where eight Republican male state legislators are co-sponsoring measures that would criminalize “abortion trafficking.” This legislation would penalize adults who assist minors in obtaining abortions or early pregnancy medications without parental consent, while also permitting civil lawsuits for the “wrongful death of an unborn child that was aborted.”
Similar bills are pending in states like Oklahoma, Mississippi, and Alabama, which have implemented stringent abortion policies. Newsom’s campaign, supported by RightToTravel.org and funded by a national political action committee, aims to counter what he sees as a “radically conservative GOP agenda” and bolster Democratic causes.
The new creative, titled “Hostage,” depicts a tearful young woman restrained to a hospital bed, symbolizing the potential impact of proposed legislation on women’s reproductive rights. The ad calls attention to the dangers of criminalizing young women who travel to access necessary reproductive care, urging resistance against such measures. Watch below:
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In a statement, Newsom condemned the proposed abortion travel bans as “a new, sick and twisted attempt by the far right to control women and take away their freedom,” underscoring the need to resist such measures.
Supporters of the bills argue they protect parental rights in medical decision-making concerning minors. However, critics, including Newsom, contend they restrict access to abortions in states where abortion rights are protected, limiting options for pregnant individuals facing difficult decisions.
As the debate over abortion rights escalates, Governor Newsom’s campaign underscores a proactive stance in defense of women’s reproductive autonomy and access to essential healthcare services.
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