For Immediate Release
Friday, July 1, 2022
Contact: Aida Ross — aross@azdem.org, (954) 774-4599
ICYMI: Arizona Democrats Blast Republican Attorney General’s Attempt to Reinstate “Extreme, Draconian” Territorial-Era Abortion Ban
AG Candidate Kris Mayes and State Senator Rebecca Rios
Joined Local Doctors for a Press Conference Outside Brnovich’s Office
PHOENIX — Less than 24 hours after extremist Republican Attorney General Mark Brnovich announced his decision to reinstate a pre-statehood ban on abortion, Arizona Democrats and doctors held a press conference outside of his office condemning his action.
Attorney General candidate Kris Mayes, State Senator Rebecca Rios, and University of Arizona family medicine faculty physicians Dr Viktoria Krajnc and Dr. Sarah Thomas highlighted the devastating effects that this total ban will have on Arizonans and their families. The 121-year-old law criminalizes abortion at all stages of pregnancy — with no exceptions for rape or incest — and mandates jail time for anyone who facilitates an abortion.
See Below for a Roundup of Coverage on Yesterday’s Press Conference:
AZ Mirror: Dems, doctors react to Brnovich saying Arizona will enforce a Civil War-era abortion ban
At a press conference in front of the AG’s Office, Arizona State Senate Democratic leader Rebecca Rios called anti-abortion Republicans an “existential threat to Arizona,” adding that all the Republican gubernatorial candidates at Wednesday’s debate agreed with the law — and some even suggested withholding money from cities that disregard the law.
The Arizona Republic: Democrats blast Brnovich’s backing of 1800s law banning abortions in Arizona
Sen. Rebecca Rios, D-Phoenix, and Kris Mayes called Brnovich’s effort to enforce the law from the 1800s “draconian.” “The extreme right does not care about women at all. And they certainly do not care about the privacy of Arizonans. I want to be very clear — not on my watch,” Mayes said.
AP: High court: Arizona can enforce genetic issue abortion ban
Democrats and abortion rights advocates slammed Brnovich’s decision. “Mark Brnovich just took us back to 1901,” Democratic attorney general candidate Kris Mayes said Thursday. “And I think it should outrage everyone. It’s way outside of where most Arizonans stand on this issue. “And it’s also unconstitutional,” she added. “I believe all of these laws violate Arizona’s privacy clause.”
Arizona’s Family News: Doctors raise concerns about confusion surrounding Arizona abortion laws
On Thursday, state Democrats held a news conference with local physicians to voice their disdain for the recent U.S. Supreme Court decision — overturning Roe v. Wade. They also expressed outrage over Brnovich’s statement that the total abortion ban is the governing law in the state, based on the territorial law that passed a century and a half ago.
When it comes to the 1901 law, Arizona Democrats and doctors held a press conference calling out Arizona’s top prosecutor outside his office Thursday. “This extreme, draconian law criminalizes abortion at all stages of pregnancy with no exception for rape or incest,” said Sen. Rebecca Rios (D). “And mandates jail time for anyone who facilitates an abortion.”
Members of the Democratic Party are pushing back. “The government does not belong in this most private of decisions,” said Kris Mayes, who is the Democratic Party candidate for Arizona Attorney General. She is the only person running for the nomination, according to the Arizona Secretary of State’s office. “When it actually comes down to the work of protecting choice, only Democrats continue to fight for that freedom,” said State Sen. Rebecca Rios.
KTAR: Arizona Democrats React to Abortion Ban
Arizona Democrats are coming out against Attorney General Mark Brnovich after he claimed abortion is illegal in arizona. Arizona state Senate Democratic leader, Rebecca Rios says the majority of Arizonans support access to safe and legal abortions and opposed the overturning of Roe v Wade which is supported by recent polls. “Anti-choice Republicans pose an existential threat. time and again they prioritize their radical extremist agenda over actually serving Arizonans.” Rios urges Arizonans to vote for Democrats to ensure access to abortions.
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