In a powerful speech set to take place in the Atlanta area, Vice President Kamala Harris will address the devastating impact of Donald Trump’s role in dismantling abortion rights, days after two Georgia mothers died due to complications from the state’s restrictive abortion laws. Harris’ remarks come as part of her ongoing campaign to highlight the dangerous consequences of the 2022 Supreme Court decision that overturned Roe v. Wade, a decision made possible by three Trump-appointed justices.
Harris Blames Trump for the Loss of Roe v. Wade
Kamala Harris has made reproductive rights a central theme in her presidential campaign, holding Donald Trump directly accountable for the current wave of abortion bans sweeping the nation. Harris’ campaign has pointed to the fact that Trump’s appointments to the Supreme Court—Justices Neil Gorsuch, Brett Kavanaugh, and Amy Coney Barrett—were instrumental in overturning Roe v. Wade, which for nearly 50 years guaranteed a woman’s right to choose. The ruling has since led to near-total abortion bans in over a dozen states, including Georgia, where women are now suffering dire medical consequences.
Harris has been vocal about the healthcare crisis that has emerged in the aftermath of Roe’s demise. Her speeches have called out Republicans for blocking attempts to codify reproductive rights into federal law, leaving women in many states vulnerable to unclear and restrictive abortion bans.
Georgia’s Heartbreaking Deaths: Amber Thurman and Candi Miller
The urgency of Harris’ campaign rhetoric has been underscored by the recent deaths of two Georgia mothers, Amber Nicole Thurman and Candi Miller, who were unable to access timely abortion-related healthcare. Their tragic stories, first reported by ProPublica, have sparked nationwide outrage and renewed debate over the consequences of Georgia’s six-week abortion ban.
Amber Thurman, a 28-year-old mother, died after experiencing a rare but serious complication during her attempt to end a pregnancy using abortion pills in 2022. When her body failed to expel all of the fetal tissue, a routine surgical procedure was delayed for 20 hours. During that time, Thurman developed sepsis, and her heart stopped during emergency surgery. According to Georgia’s maternal mortality review committee, Thurman’s death was preventable, and had the state’s abortion laws been less restrictive, her life might have been saved.
“This young mother should be alive, raising her son and pursuing her dream of attending nursing school,” Harris said earlier this week in a statement on Thurman’s death. Harris emphasized that this tragedy is exactly what was feared when Roe was struck down. The Vice President has directly blamed Donald Trump for creating the legal framework that led to these devastating consequences.
Confusion Over Medical Exceptions
Although Georgia law allows abortions in cases of medical emergencies, the language surrounding these exceptions is vague, leaving doctors uncertain about when they can legally intervene. Physicians across the country have echoed concerns that these restrictions force them to wait until a patient’s condition worsens, leading to unnecessary suffering and even death.
The story of Candi Miller, the other Georgia mother who died under similar circumstances, further illustrates the grave dangers posed by these restrictive laws. Both cases were deemed “preventable” by the state’s maternal mortality review committee, shining a light on the deadly effects of legal ambiguity surrounding abortion care.
The Role of Abortion in Upcoming Elections
As abortion access continues to dominate public discourse, Democrats are hopeful that the backlash against the rollback of reproductive rights will translate into political gains. Access to abortion has emerged as a top issue for many voters, especially women, and is expected to play a pivotal role in key battleground states like Nevada and Arizona, where abortion-related ballot measures are likely to drive voter turnout.
Harris’ speech in Georgia aims to galvanize this momentum, connecting the tragic stories of Amber Thurman and Candi Miller to the broader narrative of reproductive injustice. With her sharp rebuke of Donald Trump’s legacy, she is positioning herself as a champion for women’s healthcare, ready to fight for the federal protection of abortion rights.
FAQ About Amber Thurman, Georgia
Who was Amber Thurman?
Amber Nicole Thurman was a 28-year-old Georgia mother who tragically died in 2022 after experiencing complications during a medication-induced abortion. Due to delays in medical intervention related to Georgia’s abortion restrictions, she developed sepsis and died during emergency surgery. Her death has been ruled preventable by the state’s maternal mortality review committee.
What happened to Amber Thurman?
Amber Thurman’s body failed to expel all of the fetal tissue after she took abortion pills to end her pregnancy. Doctors delayed performing a routine surgical procedure for 20 hours, during which time she developed sepsis. She died from cardiac arrest during emergency surgery.
Why are Amber Thurman’s death and Candi Miller’s death significant?
The deaths of Amber Thurman and Candi Miller highlight the dangerous consequences of restrictive abortion laws in Georgia. Both women’s deaths were deemed preventable, underscoring the need for clearer medical guidelines and access to timely abortion-related healthcare.
What is Kamala Harris’ stance on these deaths?
Kamala Harris has condemned Georgia’s abortion restrictions and blamed Donald Trump’s role in appointing Supreme Court justices who overturned Roe v. Wade. She has used Amber Thurman’s death as an example of the tragic consequences of the current abortion bans in the U.S.
How does this relate to the 2024 election?
Harris is making abortion rights a central issue in her presidential campaign. The recent deaths of women like Amber Thurman are expected to galvanize voters, particularly in key battleground states where abortion-related ballot measures will play a significant role in the 2024 election.