Twenty-five white men in Alabama are trying to change the course of history, attempting to control a women’s right to choose. The Alabama State Senate voted to allow an almost total ban on abortion to move forward. The former president of Planned Parenthood Cecile Richards told MSNBC’s Lawrence O’Donnell (watch above) that this is “terrible day for women and families in this country” adding that this is “the most extreme abortion ban that’s ever been passed.” Abbey Crain, a reporter for Reckon Alabama was there for the vote and says after it passed there were “Lots of men celebrating with hand shakes and fist bumps outside the chamber.” They were celebrating taking away a woman’s right to choose. Let that sink in. State Sen. Linda Coleman-Madison said, “This bill isn’t about the right to life. This bill is about control.” 

Here’s what this bill does:

  • Makes abortion illegal at all stages of pregnancy (basically from the moment of conception)
  • Slaps doctors who perform abortions with a Class A felony (sentence could be up to life in prison) 
  • Offers no exceptions for age, rape or incest
  • The only exception is if a mother’s life is at risk
  • Creates a legal challenge to Roe v. Wade

State Senator Bobby Singleton was among only 6 state senators who voted against the bill. It’s worth listening to what he said last night after it passed.

Senator Elizabeth Warren says:

This ban is dangerous and exceptionally cruel—and the bill’s authors want to use it to overturn Roe v. Wade. I’ve lived in that America and let me tell you: We are not going back—not now, not ever. We will fight this. And we will win.

Or as director Ava DuVernay says:

Don’t move forward after reading this like everything is normal. Don’t shake your head at Alabama and then keep going about your day. Realize that this is a warning. It’s Alabama and abortion today. It’s you and your rights tomorrow. Your silence will not save you. So speak up.