COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) — Following the passage of the amendment to protect reproductive care in the Buckeye State, Pro-Choice Ohio is rebranding itself as Abortion Forward.
In a news release, the independent Ohio group said it would “continue its organizing, advocacy, and electoral work to move Ohio forward.” The organization also announced that Kellie Copeland would continue her role as executive director.
One future initiative Abortion Forward outlined will be flipping the Supreme Court of Ohio to a reproductive freedom majority in the fall election.
“Together, Ohioans scored a historic victory for reproductive freedom, but the work doesn’t stop there,” Copeland said. “For Ohioans to have real access to abortion we must have a Supreme Court of Ohio that upholds the promise of the Ohio Reproductive Freedom Amendment.”
This fall, Ohioans will take back the court so that the Ohio Reproductive Freedom Amendment does not become just a piece of paper. The dignity of every person must be valued. Abortion must be accessible locally without stigma. Financial and political barriers must be removed from Ohio’s laws.”
The activists also expressed concern over a possible federal abortion ban that would override the Ohio Reproductive Freedom Amendment. Deputy Director Jaime Miracle, the organization’s chief lobbyist in the Ohio Statehouse, noted promoting pro-choice candidates to represent Ohio in Washington D.C. will be a key part of its platform.
“Anti-abortion forces are hell bent on passing a national abortion ban that would destroy state protections on abortion access including Ohio’s Reproductive Freedom Amendment,” said Miracle. “We must elect pro-choice candidates to the White House, Congress, and US Senate to protect our families. We cannot allow anti-abortion extremists to plunge our state and nation into a crisis that will have a devastating impact, not only on those who need access to abortion care but our entire healthcare system.”
The Pro-Choice Ohio website has been taken down and a new Abortion Forward site is currently active. The group also said it is no longer affiliated with NARAL Pro-Choice America. That group has rebranded as Reproductive Freedom for All.
