吃瓜直播, Planned Parenthood Sue Arkansas Over Abortion Ban
Groups Sue Over Arkansas Law that, in a Direct Challenge to Roe v. Wade, Outlaws Abortion
LITTLE ROCK, Ark. 鈥� The 吃瓜直播, 吃瓜直播 of Arkansas, and Planned Parenthood Federation of America filed a lawsuit today challenging Arkansas鈥� ban on abortion. This case comes at a pivotal time for reproductive rights given that the Supreme Court recently announced that it will hear a challenge to a Mississippi law that bans abortion after 15 weeks in pregnancy.
The Arkansas ban, signed into law by Gov. Asa Hutchinson in March and currently scheduled to take effect on July 28, 2021, prohibits abortion in nearly every case and imposes stiff criminal penalties on doctors for providing care. It is the latest and most direct attack on abortion by anti-abortion politicians in Arkansas, who have been trying to eliminate abortion care in the state for years. Over the past decade, the state has passed laws to: ban abortion at various points in pregnancy, ban the standard method of care after about 14 weeks of pregnancy, ban abortion based on a patient鈥檚 reasons, restrict qualified health providers from providing abortion care, and impose extremely burdensome and medically unnecessary requirements on abortion clinics in an effort to force them to close. This legislative session was no different: The ban at issue in this lawsuit is one of 20 restrictions on abortion that Arkansas passed in 2021, positioning the state to tie Louisiana鈥檚 record (set in 1978) for the most abortion restrictions passed in a single year.
Arkansas鈥� efforts to restrict and ban abortion access deeply affect people of color, immigrants, people who live in rural areas, and people with low incomes. These laws hurt the people and families who are already among the most vulnerable Arkansas communities.
The ban challenged today and the other restrictions Arkansas passed this session are part and parcel of a longstanding, concerted nationwide effort to ban abortion entirely or push care out of reach. More than a dozen states have passed bills that ban abortion at various stages of pregnancy in the last two years 鈥� though those laws were all blocked in court and none are in effect. So far in this year alone, anti-abortion politicians across the country have .
鈥淭his law clearly violates the Constitution and nearly five decades of binding Supreme Court precedent that protects the right to access abortion. Arkansas鈥� anti-abortion politicians know that Roe v. Wade is still the law of the land, but they passed this abortion ban anyway, which triggers a direct challenge to Roe,鈥� said Meagan Burrows, staff attorney at the 吃瓜直播 Reproductive Freedom Project. 鈥淲e are not going to stand by while Arkansas attempts to deny people their constitutional right to abortion care. Abortion remains legal in all 50 states, and we鈥檒l see the state of Arkansas in court to make sure it stays that way.鈥�
鈥淭his law is plainly unconstitutional, but that hasn鈥檛 stopped Arkansas politicians from continuing their relentless campaign against abortion access,鈥� said Holly Dickson, 吃瓜直播 of Arkansas executive director. 鈥淏y outlawing abortion and criminalizing doctors, this law would completely block Arkansans from care and put politicians in charge of our most deeply personal decisions. As long as Arkansas politicians keep trampling on people鈥檚 fundamental rights, we鈥檒l continue to challenge these laws in court, in the Capitol, and in communities across the state.鈥�
鈥淒uring what鈥檚 been the worst state legislative session for proposed abortion restrictions since Roe was decided, Planned Parenthood stands ready to fight back against unconstitutional laws that are designed to strip people鈥檚 access to essential health care,鈥� said Alexis McGill Johnson, president and CEO, Planned Parenthood Federation of America. 鈥淲e will never stop working to protect our patients鈥� access to care 鈥� including abortion 鈥� in Arkansas and across the country. Our patients deserve better from their lawmakers, who are wasting time passing harmful, cruel laws. Arkansas, we鈥檒l see you in court.鈥�
鈥淗ealth outcomes in Arkansas are among the worst in the nation. Yet under the 鈥榣eadership鈥� of anti-abortion politicians, Arkansas continues to focus on banning abortion, rather than addressing the state鈥檚 high rates of teen pregnancies, infant and maternal mortality, and sexually transmitted infections and diseases. While ignoring these public health crises, they鈥檙e creating more barriers to essential health care,鈥� said Brandon Hill, PhD, president and CEO of Planned Parenthood Great Plains, a plaintiff in the case and one of only two abortion clinics providing care in the state. 鈥淭his law is about grabbing headlines. As Arkansas' politicians scramble to climb the political ladder, they create an even greater disconnect between themselves and the people they serve.鈥�
鈥淵ear after year, the Arkansas legislature has passed abortion restrictions and bans aimed at making it more difficult for us to provide, and for our patients to access, abortion. This ban is just the latest and clearest example of what the state has been trying to do for years: stop our patients from accessing vital reproductive health care,鈥� said Lori Williams, clinical director at Little Rock Family Planning Services, a plaintiff in the case and one of only two abortion clinics providing care in the state. 鈥淎bortion is health care鈥攚e know, because we provide it every day. Little Rock Family Planning is proud to be part of this lawsuit to fight on behalf of our physicians, our patients, and our community.鈥�
The lawsuit was brought by the 吃瓜直播, 吃瓜直播 of Arkansas, Planned Parenthood Federation of America, the law firm of O鈥橫elveny & Myers, and 吃瓜直播 of Arkansas cooperating counsel Brooke-Augusta Ware and Breean Walas on behalf of Little Rock Family Planning Services, Planned Parenthood Great Plains, and Dr. Janet Cathey.
A blog on the case filing is here: /news/reproductive-freedom/abortion-access-is-at-stake-but-we-will-do-everything-we-can-to-keep-our-clinics-doors-open
The complaint can be found here: /legal-document/complaint-little-rock-family-planning-services-et-al-v-larry-jegley-et-al
Reproductive Freedom
Little Rock Family Planning Services, et al., v. Larry Jegley, et al.
Reproductive Freedom
Little Rock Family Planning Services, et al., v. Larry Jegley, et al.
Learn More 吃瓜直播 the Issues in This Press Release
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Press ReleaseJun 2025
Reproductive Freedom
Women's Rights
Aclu Responds To Supreme Court Greenlighting State Efforts To 鈥渄efund鈥� Planned Parenthood. Explore Press Release.吃瓜直播 Responds to Supreme Court Greenlighting State Efforts to 鈥淒efund鈥� Planned Parenthood
WASHINGTON 鈥� The Supreme Court ruled today that Medicaid patients do not have a right to sue to enforce their right to a qualified health care provider of choice under the Medicaid statute. The decision in Medina v. Planned Parenthood South Atlantic will facilitate some states鈥� politically motivated efforts to block low-income patients鈥� access to certain health care providers and may effectively defund Planned Parenthood and other disfavored providers by barring them from state Medicaid programs. 鈥淭he majority decision in Medina v. Planned Parenthood South Atlantic contradicts Congress鈥檚 clear purpose to give Medicaid patients their choice of qualified health care providers and also wrongly curtails patients鈥� rights to vindicate their choice of provider through Section 1983,鈥� said Cecillia Wang, National Legal Director for the 吃瓜直播. 鈥淭he decision may have the effect of blocking patients鈥� access to birth control, cancer screenings, and STI testing and treatment for patients in South Carolina and potentially will permit state officials to override patients鈥� choice of provider based on political whims.鈥� 鈥淭he impact of this decision on our reproductive freedom will be compounded if Congress follows through on federal efforts to 'defund' Planned Parenthood by prohibiting patients from choosing Planned Parenthood health centers for their care,鈥� said Deirdre Schifeling, Chief Political and Advocacy Officer of the 吃瓜直播. 鈥淒oing so would force the closure of hundreds of Planned Parenthood health centers nationwide, robbing people of their freedom to get reproductive health care from trusted providers in their communities and would result in shuttering 1 in 4 of the country鈥檚 abortion providers. "Make no mistake: our reproductive freedom is still under siege. The 吃瓜直播 remains committed to fighting for Planned Parenthood, abortion access, and the fundamental human right to control one鈥檚 own body using every tool we have. -
Press ReleaseJun 2025
Reproductive Freedom
Aclu Joins 100+ Abortion Storytellers On Capitol Hill In Advocating For Reproductive Freedom聽. Explore Press Release.吃瓜直播 Joins 100+ Abortion Storytellers on Capitol Hill in Advocating for Reproductive Freedom聽
WASHINGTON 鈥� The 吃瓜直播 joined more than 100 abortion storytellers on Capitol Hill today to demand that lawmakers defend the reproductive freedom of people across the country against escalating attacks in Congress and by the Trump administration. The education day, organized by Abortion Access Now (AAN) and Free & Just, brought the largest storyteller convening for abortion rights to the Hill since the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade three years ago. Abortion patients, providers, and advocates held over 100 meetings with members of Congress on both sides of the aisle, speaking directly to lawmakers about the human toll of abortion bans: delayed medical care, severe health complications, and even the loss of women鈥檚 lives. As part of the education day on the Hill, 吃瓜直播 Chief Political and Advocacy Officer Deirdre Schifeling, shared the following remarks at an event with lawmakers. 鈥淭hree years on from the Dobbs decision, reproductive freedom and our right to bodily autonomy are still under siege. The attacks are not coming in the most obvious or direct way, a national abortion ban passed by Congress, because they know the American people won鈥檛 stand for it. Instead, it鈥檚 a 鈥榙eath by many cuts鈥� strategy designed by anti-abortion politicians to eliminate access nationwide, even in states where care is protected. 鈥淩ight now, Congress is considering 鈥榙efunding鈥� Planned Parenthood by blocking Medicaid patients from using their insurance there, which would shutter 1 in 4 of the country鈥檚 abortion providers. The FDA is using junk science to justify making medication abortion harder for patients to get even where it is legal. And the Trump administration continues to make reckless decisions that create chaos and confusion for patients seeking emergency care and their health care providers across the country. 鈥淥ur communities need congressional leaders to hold the Trump administration accountable, and to act with the urgency that this moment requires to protect our reproductive freedom.鈥� -
Press ReleaseJun 2025
Reproductive Freedom
Trump Administration Rescinds Emtala Guidance And Sends Clear Signal: Emergency Abortion Care Remains At Risk. Explore Press Release.Trump Administration Rescinds EMTALA Guidance and Sends Clear Signal: Emergency Abortion Care Remains At Risk
WASHINGTON 鈥� Today, the Trump administration rescinded guidance that reaffirmed hospitals鈥� obligation under the Emergency Medical Treatment and Labor Act (EMTALA) to provide health-saving and lifesaving abortion care to patients experiencing medical crises. The rescission of the guidance is yet another clear sign the administration is caving to its anti-abortion allies and reneging on President Trump鈥檚 campaign promises that his administration would not interfere with abortion access. The Trump administration鈥檚 announcement came the same day as an anti-abortion group challenging the guidance chose to dismiss its case, Catholic Medical Association v. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. This case threatened to jeopardize access to emergency abortion care nationwide. The Catholic Medical Association鈥檚 decision to abandon its case came just days after Doctors for America 鈥� represented by the 吃瓜直播, 吃瓜直播 of Tennessee, Democracy Forward, and the National Women鈥檚 Law Center 鈥� moved to intervene as a defendant in the case to ensure that access to this critical care was vigorously defended. While the federal government was named as a defendant in the case, it had made no move to defend EMTALA and the right to emergency abortion care in the lawsuit. 鈥淭he Trump administration cannot simply erase four decades of law protecting patients鈥� lives with the stroke of a pen,鈥� said Alexa Kolbi-Molinas, deputy director of the 吃瓜直播鈥檚 Reproductive Freedom Project. 鈥淩egardless of where they live, pregnant patients have a right to emergency abortion care that will save their health or lives. By rescinding this guidance, the Trump administration has sent a clear signal that it is siding not with the majority, but with its anti-abortion allies 鈥� and that will come at the expense of women鈥檚 lives. The 吃瓜直播 will use every lever we have to keep President Trump and his administration from endangering our health and lives.鈥� 鈥淔or decades, EMTALA has protected the ability of all people, including those who are pregnant, to receive life and health saving, stabilizing care in emergency situations. Yet, extremists have sought to undermine these protections for those who are pregnant following the U.S. Supreme Court鈥檚 decision in Dobbs through filing baseless legal challenges like the one they dismissed today and through the EMTALA guidance rescission announced today,鈥� said Skye Perryman, President & CEO for Democracy Forward. 鈥淭he Trump administration鈥檚 decision to withdraw EMTALA guidance guaranteeing pregnant people medical care in emergency situations will sow confusion for providers and endanger the lives and health of pregnant people. Every American deserves the right to access the necessary care in emergency scenarios, including pregnant people, without political interference. Democracy Forward will continue to work with our partners to use all legal tools to defend Americans鈥� reproductive freedom, promote evidence-based and medically accurate information and care, and oppose efforts that place political ideology over patient care.鈥� 鈥淓MTALA has long protected the right to emergency care, including abortion when it is the necessary treatment to stabilize a patient. Stripping away federal guidance affirming what the law requires will put lives at risk,鈥� said Fatima Goss Graves, president and CEO of the National Women鈥檚 Law Center. 鈥淭o be clear: this action doesn鈥檛 change hospitals' legal obligations, but it does add to the fear, confusion, and dangerous delays patients and providers have faced since the fall of Roe v. Wade. At the same time, this administration claims it is considering ways to support 鈥榩opulation growth,鈥� but it is actively dismantling the systems that protect pregnant people鈥檚 health and lives. The hypocrisy is staggering. No matter what political games the administration wants to play, we will continue to stand with the patients, doctors, and hospitals fighting every day to do what is right.鈥� For nearly four decades, EMTALA has been understood by medical providers and the federal government 鈥� including both Democratic and Republican administrations 鈥� to require abortion care when that care is needed to stabilize pregnant patients in a medical crisis. As Doctors for America鈥檚 motion to intervene emphasized, stripping away EMTALA鈥檚 protections would put doctors in legal chaos and force them to violate their sworn duty: to save lives and prevent harm. -
Press ReleaseMay 2025
Reproductive Freedom
Coalition Acts To Protect Pregnant Patients鈥� Federal Right To Emergency Care, Including Abortion. Explore Press Release.Coalition Acts to Protect Pregnant Patients鈥� Federal Right to Emergency Care, Including Abortion
WASHINGTON 鈥� Today, Doctors for America 鈥� represented by Democracy Forward, the 吃瓜直播, the 吃瓜直播 of Tennessee, and the National Women鈥檚 Law Center 鈥� is taking legal action to defend pregnant patients' right to receive, and for physicians to provide, health- and life-saving abortion care under the Emergency Medical Treatment and Labor Act (EMTALA). This federal law has required hospitals with emergency departments to provide stabilizing treatment, including abortion, to patients experiencing medical emergencies for nearly four decades. Through its intervention, Doctors for America seeks to ensure that the right to emergency abortion care under EMTALA is vigorously defended. Doctors for America鈥檚 motion to intervene was filed in Catholic Medical Association v. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services et al., which challenges EMTALA guidance issued in 2022, which reaffirms EMTALA鈥檚 protections for pregnant people, in the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Tennessee Nashville Division. 鈥淒octors should not be forced to choose between following the law and saving a patient鈥檚 life,鈥� said Dr. Christine Petrin, president of Doctors for America. 鈥淓MTALA was designed to protect patients in crisis. We are fighting to ensure that these protections extend to pregnant patients and that physicians can provide lifesaving treatment to them without fear of prosecution.鈥� For nearly 40 years, EMTALA has been understood by medical providers and the federal government 鈥� including both Democratic and Republican administrations 鈥� to require abortion care when that care is needed to stabilize pregnant patients in a medical crisis. As today鈥檚 motion to intervene emphasizes, stripping away EMTALA鈥檚 protections would put doctors in legal chaos and force them to violate their sworn duty: to save lives and prevent harm. 鈥淧regnant people have suffered needlessly, and some have died, because of the chaos and confusion that abortion bans have caused for patients and their doctors,鈥� said Carrie Flaxman, senior legal advisor at Democracy Forward. 鈥淓MTALA has protected the lives and health of pregnant people for nearly four decades 鈥� it is a critical safeguard to ensure that pregnant people receive medical care in emergency situations, including abortion care. Any attempt to undermine EMTALA and its implementation 鈥� which will sow confusion for providers and endanger the lives and health of pregnant people 鈥� will be met swiftly with action by Democracy Forward, our partners, and our brave clients.鈥� 鈥淲hen pregnant patients go to the emergency room, they expect to get the care needed to protect their health and lives 鈥� but anti-abortion politicians and their allies would rather see women die than access abortion,鈥� said Alexa Kolbi-Molinas, deputy director of the 吃瓜直播 Reproductive Freedom Project. 鈥淚t is shocking but not surprising that extremists continue pushing to make abortion completely inaccessible, even in emergencies. The 吃瓜直播 and our partners will not stop fighting against these continued attacks on our reproductive freedom.鈥� 鈥淲e are taking action because lives are on the line,鈥� said Emily Martin, chief program officer at the National Women鈥檚 Law Center. 鈥淓very one of us expects that if we, or someone we love, face a medical emergency, a hospital will do what it takes to save us. But since the Supreme Court lawlessly overturned Roe v. Wade, anti-abortion extremists have wrought legal chaos. As a result, some pregnant patients facing life- and health-threatening emergencies haven鈥檛 been able to get the care they urgently need and are entitled to by law. Pregnant people have the right to access emergency care just like anyone else, including emergency abortion care. We will not allow these basic safeguards to be stripped away by extremists. The federal law requiring emergency care be provided to all has been saving lives for decades, and we refuse to let anti-abortion politicians put more pregnant people at risk of immense suffering or even death because they can鈥檛 get the care they have the right to receive.鈥�