NCJW Applauds Ruling on Abortion Ban
June 1, 2004, WASHINGTON, DC -- In response to Federal District Court Judge Phyllis J. Hamilton’s ruling today in Planned Parenthood Federation of America v. Ashcroft, Marsha Atkind, President of the National Council of Jewish Women (NCJW) issued the following statement:
“The National Council of Jewish Women is gratified by the decision in PPFA v. Ashcroft handed down by a federal district court in San Francisco. The ruling finds that the abortion ban, signed into law by the President on November 5, 2003, is unconstitutional and may not be enforced. This draconian ban, opposed by NCJW, could have outlawed abortions as early as 12 to 15 weeks in pregnancy, including those that physicians say are safe and among the best in terms of protecting a woman’s health. Under this law, women’s lives and health have been put at risk.
"NCJW, long an opponent of this legislation, is pleased that physicians covered by this ruling will once again be able to provide the best and most appropriate care for their patients without fear of criminal prosecution. We hope that the remaining cases challenging the abortion ban will be decided similarly.”
NCJW is a volunteer organization, inspired by Jewish values, that works to improve the quality of life for women, children, and families and to ensure individual rights and freedoms for all through its network of 90,000 members, supporters, and volunteers nationwide..
Contact:
Sammie Moshenberg
202-296-2588; sammie@ncjwdc.org