At long last, we have arrived at what will (possibly) be the last week of the legislative session. Sadly, both chambers of the General Assembly are using the last three days of the session to fast track bills that attack our civil liberties. We have to buckle up for a week of continuous advocacy because our freedoms are on the docket at the State House.
Another Abortion Ban
Two weeks ago, we were able to breathe an uneasy sigh of relief when the Senate failed to pass a total abortion ban. While the Senate can't take that bill up again till January, they did already pass a six-week abortion ban this session, and the House plans to take that bill up this week. With three days left in the session, this means that Representatives will try to rush S. 474 through subcommittee and committee on Tuesday in a mad dash to get it to the floor Tuesday. We have absolutely no time to waste this week when it comes to demanding protection of our reproductive freedoms.
So what can you do?
Show up on Tuesday: Meet us at the State House on Tuesday wearing black. If you'd like to join us to be part of a group effort to pack the committee rooms and the House gallery and take a visible stand against this attack on abortion rights, contact ACLU of SC Advocacy Strategist Matthew Butler.
Our partners at Women's Rights and Empowerment Network (WREN) have an easy way for you to take action and tell your Representative to vote no and protect reproductive freedom in South Carolina.
Classroom Censorship
The Senate is once again taking up the classroom censorship bill and is expected to vote on it Tuesday. The bill came up last week thanks to Senate Majority Leader Shane Massey, who used his power to bring up the bill in a way that silences dissenting parties—it's the least democratic way to go about making laws. No doubt this was done in the least democratic way possible because Massey knows that this bill isn't a priority for most South Carolinians; this whole effort to pass classroom censorship laws is driven by just a handful of extremists. Now we need to keep the pressure on Senators and make sure they know where we stand on prohibiting discussions of race, gender, or sexual orientation in the classroom. Please call your Senator before they gavel in on Tuesday and urge them to vote no on H. 3728.
Find your Senator's contact info here.
Show up on Tuesday: Meet us at the State House on Tuesday wearing black. If you'd like to join us to be part of a group effort to pack the Senate gallery and take a visible stand against this attack on classroom censorship, contact ACLU of SC Senior Advocacy Strategist Josh Malkin.