LINCOLN, Neb. – Outraged Nebraskans are demanding state senators keep abortion legal in Nebraska following the Supreme Court’s Friday decision ending the constitutional right to abortion.
Over the weekend, the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) of Nebraska’s Take Action to Protect Abortion Access webpage became one of its most viewed resources of the year.
More than 1,300 Nebraskans visited the webpage in the past three days. Many of them took the additional steps of contacting their state senator through an action form, signing up to mail postcards to state senators and volunteering to testify during a potential special session.
Volunteers and emailers span the state. The group includes people from Alliance, Beatrice, Bellevue, Bennet, Bennington, Blair, Burwell, Cedar Bluffs, Columbus, Eagle, Elkhorn, Fort Calhoun, Fremont, Gretna, Hastings, La Vista, Lincoln, North Platte, Omaha, Osceola, Papillon, Pickrell, Plattsmouth, Ralston, Roca, Valley and Waverly.
ACLU of Nebraska Legal and Policy Counsel Scout Richters said the wave of action affirms recent polling that shows most Nebraskans support keeping abortion legal in our state.
“Nebraskans must be able to control our own bodies, lives and futures — most of us understand that. But Gov. Pete Ricketts and some state senators are already talking about a special session so that they can force Nebraskans to carry pregnancies against their will and make it a crime for doctors to provide essential care. There aren’t words that do justice to the harm that would cause to thousands of Nebraskans. The good news is that Nebraskans have a say on what happens next, and we are making our voices heard loud and clear. State senators have a responsibility to listen to Nebraskans and stop the bans.”
The weekend online activity followed a decision day protest in Omaha with more than 1,000 attendees and a protest in Lincoln with more than 300 attendees. The ACLU of Nebraska partnered with I Be Black Girl, Planned Parenthood North Central States, the Women’s Fund of Omaha and other community partners to organize the events.
