Press Release
NARAL Pro-Choice Georgia Calls Out Governor Brian Kemp on Anti-Choice Extremism Ahead of Inauguration
For Immediate Release: Wednesday, January 11, 2023
Contact: [email protected]
Georgia — Ahead of anti-choice Georgia Governor Brian Kemp’s inauguration on Thursday, NARAL Pro-Choice America is shining a light on his agenda to further eviscerate reproductive freedom in the Peach State. In addition to signing one of the country’s most extreme bans on abortion and indicating he would like to go further, Gov. Kemp has shown he supports a statewide ban on the destruction of embryos, which could result in restrictions on in vitro fertilization (IVF), and stated he is open to banning contraception. He has also attacked the very right to vote, signing HB 1464, an extreme voting restriction bill that would make it harder for Georgians to cast their ballots.
NARAL Pro-Choice America President Mini Timmaraju released the following statement:
“No matter how he spins it in his inaugural address, Governor Brian Kemp doesn’t have Georgians’ best interests in mind. From abortion care to contraception and fertility treatments like IVF—Gov. Kemp wants to take away our right to decide how and when to start or expand a family. We know he’d rather not talk about his extreme ideals, but we won’t let him run away from his own words.”
NARAL Pro-Choice America Southeast Campaigns Director Alicia Stallworth added:
“Governor Brian Kemp claims to put Georgians first, but we all know who he is placing above all else—himself and his access to power. Not only is his record out of touch with the vast majority of Georgians, but it highlights a chilling truth: Gov. Kemp and his allies will do anything in their quest for power, including attacking reproductive freedom and our right to vote. NARAL Pro-Choice Georgia and our 83,000 members will not be deterred in the face of Gov. Kemp’s continued and increasingly extreme attacks on our most fundamental freedoms.”
In September, NARAL released polling from EMC Research showing that Georgia voters overwhelmingly oppose efforts supported by Gov. Kemp to restrict abortion access and reproductive freedom.
EMC Research’s polling also found that:
- 92% of Georgia voters do not believe abortion should be illegal.
- 62% oppose—and 52% strongly oppose—Georgia’s six-week ban on abortion, which was signed into law by Gov. Kemp in 2019.
- 74% oppose prohibiting access to prescription medications for at-home abortion care or miscarriage management.
- 94% oppose—with 87% strongly opposed—banning birth control.
- 81% oppose prohibiting access to “Plan B” emergency contraception, with 71% strongly opposed.
- 83% oppose criminal penalties for medical professionals who provide reproductive health care.
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For over 50 years, NARAL Pro-Choice America has fought to protect and advance reproductive freedom at the federal and state levels—including access to abortion care, birth control, pregnancy and post-partum care, and paid family leave—for every body. NARAL is powered by its 4 million members from every state and congressional district in the country, representing the 8 in 10 Americans who support legal abortion.