Missourians for Constitutional Freedom, the PAC gathering signatures for an initiative to place women’s reproductive rights, women’s health care, and access to abortion on the ballot, and their allies held volunteer training, petition signings, and rallies across locations in Missouri Tuesday evening.

Dr. Iman Alsaden, Chief Medical Officer of Planned Parenthood – Great Plains, spoke at the evening rally in Kansas City.

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Dr. Iman Alsaden: …I became an abortion provider to listen to and trust patients, to help ensure that they have the space to be held when the world has told them they are wrong, when the world has told them they are mad, and when they have limited options to receive excellent medical care.

[….]

…I have witnessed continued attacks on our rights, followed by the complete loss of abortion access here in Missouri. It’s devastating to see firsthand how abortion bans have gotten in the way of people’s ability to get the care that they need when they need it.

And now I watch every day as anti-abortion politicians and protesters try to tell patients what is right for them and what is good for them when in fact they are endangering the lives of these patients.

Because of Missouri’s abortion bans I often see patients in our Kansas health centers who have had to travel hours, take time of off work, find childcare to access the health care that should be available to them within their own communities, where they call home. And those people who can make it to a health center in a state like, and those are people who can actually make it to a health center in a state like Kansas. Because for every patient I do see I think of those who couldn’t overcome the physical or financial burden to reach the care that they need.

These are people who cannot get what they need at home, in their communities. People who can’t confide in a neighbor or a friend in a time of need due to the fear of prosecution or retribution. Now, it’s time to change that.

As a state we are living the reality of the ripple effect of abortion bans. We know that when abortion is inaccessible the health and well-being of all people suffers. Pregnant people get sicker when all health care options are not available to them. Our home here in Missouri has become a scary place, a dangerous place. Made so by politicians who think they know better than we do, who think their beliefs should control our futures.

In a country with expert comprehensive health care this devastating reality does not have to be our future.

Every person, everyone, deserves the freedom to make their own decisions, right here, at home. Where we live. Without the interference of politicians. And everyone has always deserved that.

[….]

Previously:

Chutzpah (Kansas) (August 4, 2022)

Campaign Finance: Not too sure about that (January 16, 2024)

Missourians for Constitutional Freedom – women’s rights initiative petition for 2024 ballot (January 18, 2024)

Campaign Finance: Remember Kansas? Missouri is next. (January 19, 2024)

Campaign Finance: own it (January 19, 2024)

Campaign Finance: We’re not in Kansas anymore (January 19, 2024)

Mark Alford (r) – failure to read the womb, again (January 21, 2024)

Campaign Finance: More (January 22, 2024)

Campaign Finance: and more (January 23, 2024)

Campaign Finance: It does, but not in the way you think. (January 23, 2024)

Campaign Finance: and even more (January 26, 2024)

Campaign Finance: “No one expects the anti-choice imposition” (January 26, 2024)

Campaign Finance: this is the beginning, not the end (February 1, 2024)

Campaign Finance: keep it coming (February 4, 2024)

Campaign Finance: philanthropy (February 6, 2024)

Missourians for Constitutional Freedom – volunteer training, petition signing, rally – Kansas City, Missouri – February 6, 2024 (February 6, 2023)

Rev. Holly McKissick – Missourians for Constitutional Freedom – Kansas City – February 6, 2024 (February 7, 2024)

Rabbi Doug Alpert – Missourians for Constitutional Freedom – Kansas City – February 6, 2024 (February 7, 2024)