Anti-Abortion Movement Seeks Criminal Charges Against Women in 12 States

Kristan Hawkins, president of Students for Life, is facing increased hostility from within the anti-abortion movement, particularly from a faction known as abortion abolitionists who advocate for criminalizing abortions as homicide. This shift follows the Supreme Court's 2022 decision to overturn Roe v. Wade and the subsequent election victories for Republicans, which have emboldened more extreme anti-abortion views. Hawkins has reported needing to enhance security measures at her events due to protests, revealing the deepening divide within the anti-abortion community. While mainstream anti-abortion groups tend to avoid advocating for penalties against women who have abortions, abolitionists are actively pushing for legislation that enforces such measures. This growing movement is gaining traction in state legislatures, signaling a potentially significant shift in the legal landscape surrounding abortion rights. Experts note the increasing visibility and influence of the abortion abolitionist movement, which was once seen as fringe, is now becoming more prominent and aggressive in its goals.