Press Releases

This is a huge win for Arizona voters and direct democracy. With this decision, voters will have a chance to vote YES on Proposition 139, the Arizona Abortion Access Act, and restore and protect the right to access abortion care in our state. With less than 80 days to go until the election, we will continue working around the clock to ensure Arizona voters from every corner of the state, from every background and every political party say YES to putting personal decisions about pregnancy and abortion where they belong – with patients, their families and their doctors, without government interference. We are confident that this fall, Arizona voters will make history by establishing a fundamental right to abortion in our state, once and for all.

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“The Arizona Supreme Court today reversed the trial court’s well-reasoned ruling and held that the phrase “unborn human being” – a watchword for anti-abortion advocates with no basis in medicine or science – is somehow impartial and objective. This means that Arizona voters won’t get to learn about the questions on their ballot in a fair, neutral, and accurate way but will instead be subjected to biased, politically-charged words developed not by experts but by anti-abortion special interests to manipulate voters and spread misinformation.

We are deeply disappointed in this ruling, but will not be deterred from doing everything in our power to communicate to voters the truth of the Arizona Abortion Access Act and why it’s critical to vote YES to restore and protect access to abortion care this fall.”

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“Today, our opposition appealed the trial court’s well reasoned ruling that found that our 200-word summary was thorough and accurate. This appeal shows yet again that they are willing to do and say anything — no matter how desperate or dishonest — to deprive Arizonans of their right to direct democracy. We’re hopeful the Arizona Supreme Court will grant us a fair and unbiased review and allow Arizona voters to have their say at the ballot box. 

Arizona for Abortion Access remains committed to giving Arizona voters the chance to restore and protect our right to access abortion free from government overreach, once and for all.”

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“Today, Arizona for Abortion Access prevailed in yet another challenge to our historic, citizen-led campaign, this time defeating the meritless challenge to the 200-word summary that appeared at the top of the petition sheets that more than 820,000 Arizona voters signed. We aren’t surprised by this win because our opposition’s arguments had no basis in Arizona law, and were nothing more than false political talking points.

If our opposition appeals, we are confident we will prevail just as we are confident we will 
win at the ballot box this November.”

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“Today, Arizona for Abortion Access filed a motion requesting that Justice William Montgomery recuse himself from considering the appeal of the trial court’s ruling that the phrase “unborn human being” in the publicity pamphlet summary for the Arizona Abortion Act wasn’t impartial as required by law. 

Based on his previous (and recent) recusal on an abortion rights case, his previous use of terminology like “unborn human being,” and various other inflammatory public statements regarding abortion providers and their supporters, it’s obvious that a reasonable, objective person would doubt his ability to make fair and impartial rulings in this case.

Our motion has three separate components.
First, Justice Montgomery ultimately recused himself in Planned Parenthood v. Mayes ith a cryptic statement that new information came to light which led him to recuse, but he didn’t share what that information was. We have no reason to believe those factors aren’t still at play today.

Second, Justice Montgomery’s previous statements about abortion rights advocates “kill[ing] children” – made outside of a Phoenix abortion provider’s office – show that the phrasing at issue in this case matches very closely with his own chosen phrasing in ways that raise serious doubts that his review would be impartial.
Third, other previous statements admonishing all abortion-rights supporters and promising they will be tormented until they “reconcile with the truth” make it clear that Arizonans will have serious questions about his impartiality.

Like anyone going before any Arizona court, we are entitled to a fair and impartial hearing. The only way to ensure that can happen is for Justice Montgomery to recuse himself. By doing so, he will protect the integrity of the court in public opinion and allow Arizona voters to feel confident that their right to direct democracy is intact. At a time when many are questioning the legitimacy of our courts, recusal is the only option.

Ultimately, Arizona voters – not judges with a history on the issue like Justice Montgomery’s – should be the ones deciding at the ballot box whether to restore and protect the right to access abortion.”

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What we called a desperate and frivolous lawsuit has now been shown to be exactly that.

Today, our opposition, the extremist group Arizona RIght to Life, withdrew their challenge to our petition circulators. In truth, it was a meritless challenge that never had any basis in fact and was waged in bad faith given how glaringly inaccurate dozens of their allegations were.

Since July 19, Arizona for Abortion Access pointed out to our opposition in no fewer than five detailed emails that their allegations were baseless and obviously untrue. They never responded and proceeded with their unfounded challenge until today. For that reason we will be seeking attorney’s fees to recover the expenses we incurred in needlessly preparing to defend against our opposition’s dishonest attempt to deprive Arizonans of the chance to vote on our citizen-led initiative.

Our opposition has not yet dropped their other baseless challenge too the 200 – word summary that appeared on the petitions more than 820,000 voters signed. We are confident that that the court will see through our opponents’ flimsy legal arguments.

This demonstrates, yet again, that our opposition is willing to do and say anything – be it in court or to voters – in their attempt to rob Arizonans of our rights. In contrast, Arizona for Abortion Access continues to fight to give voters a voice this November. 

Today, we moved another step closer to ensuring voters will have the chance to restore and protect the right to access abortion care, once and for all.

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“We are pleased to be one step closer to making sure Arizona voters get accurate and impartial information about our citizen-led effort to restore abortion access before the vote this fall.

Though we expect and are prepared for an appeal, this is important progress toward giving Arizona voters the power to make an informed decision in support of protecting our reproductive freedoms once and for all.”

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“Yesterday, Arizona Right to Life filed a desperate lawsuit against Arizona for Abortion Access. Their complaints are deceptive attempts to silence the will of more than 820,000 Arizona voters – the most voters ever unified in support of any citizen-led initiative in state history. Despite these bogus attacks by anti-abortion extremists, we have long been prepared for just this type of unfounded attempt to shut down direct democracy in our state. We are confident thatwe will prevail and remain committed to winning in November and restoring abortion access in Arizona once and for all.”

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: July 3, 2024

PHOENIX – Arizona for Abortion Access announced on Wednesday that they submitted a record breaking 823,685 signatures toward a Constitutional amendment enshrining the right to access abortion on the November ballot. That number represents one out of every five Arizona voters and is more than double the number of signatures required for a citizens initiative.

“This is the most signatures ever gathered for a ballot measure in Arizona history, which is a testament to the broad support among Arizona voters for restoring and protecting abortion access in Arizona,” said Cheryl Bruce, campaign manager of Arizona for Abortion Access.

When it is passed by voters in November, the Arizona Abortion Access Act will enshrine a right to abortion in the state constitution and prevent the state from passing laws that restrict access to abortion before fetal viability or after that point to protect the health and life of the pregnant patient.

Signatures were gathered by more than 7,000 volunteers across all 15 Arizona counties in support of the amendment. On trailheads, in coffee shops, book stores, and public events, signature-gatherers were overwhelmed by support in all demographic groups.

“After spending several months talking to voters across the political spectrum, from age 18 to 80, I have no doubt that Arizona voters will overwhelmingly pass the Arizona Abortion Access Act. Arizonans will finally be able to trust that our reproductive freedoms are restored and protected in our state constitution,” said Susan Ashley, a volunteer signature collector who began collecting signatures in January.

Advocates of reproductive freedom say that abortion bans, like the extreme ban currently in place in Arizona, fail to recognize the reality that “every pregnancy is different and every woman deserves the best care suited to her situation,” said Dr. Paul Isaacson, an Arizona OB/GYN of 30 years. “Anti-abortion extremists peddle lies about safety, why women seek abortion and who can perform abortion. The fact is, abortion care remains as safe under the Arizona Abortion Access Act as it is now; it’s a decision women do not take lightly, and it’s basic healthcare that patients need to access whether they are surivors of sexual assault, experiencing medical complications or for countless other valid reasons no arbitrary, extreme ban can possibly account for.”

Arizona currently has an extreme abortion ban with no exceptions for rape, incest or medical complications.

“Arizona women do not want to live in 1864 or 1964. We want to make our own decisions about pregnancy and abortion with our doctors and families, not judges or politicians,” said Chris Love, spokesperson for Arizona for Abortion Access.

At the campaign’s signature turn-in event, several Arizona women shared their personal experiences needing abortion care.

“The consequences of an illegal abortion continue to haunt my family,” Lake Havasu abortion patient Pamela Hill said. “I hope my story of the physical and emotional pain caused by abortion bans sends a message: every pregnancy is different, every patient is different, and every woman deserves access to appropriate care, not dangerous restrictions.” These experiences have made Hill determined to fight so that others don’t share the same traumas today as she did prior to Roe v. Wade. “We must vote to restore and protect the right to abortion,” she said.

In addition to the historic number of signatures, Arizona for Abortion Access has seen robust fundraising from supporters across the state and the country. The campaign has received donations from more than 13,000 unique grassroots donors with an average donation of $43. Earlier this month, they also announced the planned launch of a $15 million bilingual television and radio ad campaign targeting voters in Phoenix and Tucson.

The campaign is endorsed by more than 40 state and national organizations representing the faith community, the Latino community, labor unions, indigenous groups, reproductive rights organizations, veterans groups, voter advocacy organizations and many others.

“There’s no question that Arizonans across the political spectrum see reproductive freedom and bodily autonomy as central to their fundamental rights,” said Chris Love. “That includes the freedom to access abortion and keep politicians out of our private and personal healthcare decisions, once and for all.”

To learn more and access the Arizona for Abortion Access press kit, visit our website. For a video stream of today’s press conference, watch here.

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“We are relieved the Supreme Court reached the right decision , but it is a shocking reminder of how far anti-abortion politicians are willing to go in their campaign to ban abortion. Let us be clear: the decision about whether a pregnant Arizonan can receive life-saving care should not be in the hands of judges or politicians ever again. That’s why the Arizona Abortion Access Act is necessary now. The only way to ensure pregnant Arizonans can make personal medical decisions during pregnancy and Arizona doctors can provide life-saving care free from government interference is to enshrine a fundamental right to abortion care into our state constitution. It’s why we started this historic citizen-led campaign, and it’s why we must win in November. Our lives depend on it.”

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: June 24, 2024

PHOENIX – Arizona for Abortion Access released the following statement:

“Two years after the United States Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade, we are reminded, once again, that our fundamental rights are always at risk in the hands of extremist politicians. The only way Arizona can reliably restore and protect access to abortion once and for all is to enshrine this right in our state’s constitution putting these decisions back in the hands of patients, our families and our trusted healthcare providers, out of reach from the whims of politicians.

This truth is why we started this movement, it’s why thousands of Arizona volunteers from Bullhead City to Yuma and everywhere in between have dedicated the last eight months to our historic signature collection effort, and it’s why we will continue fighting to pass the Arizona Abortion Access Act in November. Today, we are looking forward.

Next week, our citizen-led coalition will submit a record-breaking number of voter signatures bringing our state one step closer to righting this wrong. Arizona deserves better and we are committed to ensuring we get it.”

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“Another day, another ruling, another example of why we must pass the Arizona Abortion Access Act. With this order, Arizonans are still subjected to another extreme ban, one that punishes patients experiencing preganancy complication s and survivors of rape and incest. Arizonans deserve to know our rights are ensured and protected, not constantly in flux based on the whims of politicians or the outcomes of endless lawsuits. Only the Arizona Abortion Access ACt restores and protects Arizona’s right to access abotion care once and for all, and that’s why Arizona voters will turn out to support in November.”

Nothing has changed about the dire need for the Arizona Abortion Access Act. The Legislature’s repeal of the 1864 total ban on abortion that does not take effect for several months despite today’s vote and regardless of the Governor’s signature. 

• Arizonans will still be living under the 1864 total abortion ban well into the fall. The repeal passed without an emergency clause, meaning that it will not take effect until 90 days after the Legislature adjourns, a date that is nowhere in sight.
• Arizona then reverts to another extreme abortion ban at 15 weeks with no exceptions for survivors of rape or incest nor for patients with medical compilations.
• The same anti-abortion extremists who celebrated the 1864 ban and crafted the 15-week ban have already laid the groundwork to further ban abortion either through dishonest ballot referrals, as their leaked scam document indicated, or through future Legislative action.
• The only option to prevent new bans is to qualify and pass the Arizona Abortion Access Act, a Constitutional amendment ensuring access to abortion that will finally take decision making power away from politicians and put it where it belongs: in the hands of Arizona patients, our medical providers and our families.

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: April 9, 2024

PHOENIX – Today, the Arizona Supreme Court ruled to uphold a devastating near-total ban on abortion from 1864. The ruling determined whether Arizonans would live under its current 15-week ban or revert back to a territorial law in place before Arizona became a state. This means Arizona now has one of the most restrictive abortion bans in the nation.

“This ruling will put the lives of untold Arizonans at risk and robs us of our most basic rights,” said campaign manager Cheryl Bruce. “Implementing a near-total abortion ban from before women even had the right to vote only further demonstrates why we need politicians and judges out of our healthcare decisions. Now more than ever, our campaign is driven to succeed in passing this amendment and protecting access to abortion in Arizona once and for all.”

“As a result of this ruling, Arizonans will suffer and die due to the whims of politicians and judges,” said Chris Love, a spokesperson for the campaign. “Arizona families deserve the right to make their own decisions about pregnancy and abortion without the constant threat of government interference. That belief is what fuels our campaign now more than ever, and we will fight like hell to restore abortion rights in Arizona this November.”

The Arizona for Abortion Access campaign has already gathered well over 500,000 Arizona voter signatures. Approximately 384,000 valid voter signatures are required by July 3. The campaign will continue collecting signatures statewide until signatures are due on July 3, 2024.

To learn more about the Arizona Abortion Access Act, visit ArizonaForAbortionAccess.org

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: April 2, 2024

PHOENIX — Today, Arizona for Abortion Access announced they have collected more than 500,000 Arizona voter signatures with more than 3 months left until the July 3 submission deadline. The required number of valid voter signatures for constitutional amendments is 383,923.

“This number is a testament to how popular reproductive freedom and protecting abortion access are among Arizona voters,” said Chris Love, a spokeswoman for the campaign.

“Since our signature gathering efforts began last fall, we have amassed a grassroots network of well over 3,000 volunteers across Arizona, from Bullhead City to Nogales and hundreds of communities in between,” said Cheryl Bruce, campaign manager. “Voters are eager to sign this petition and have a direct say in restoring abortion access this November.”

“As a volunteer signature gatherer in the East Valley, my experience tabling and going to events has been motivating,” said Susan Ashley of Maricopa County. “People are excited to sign and many thank us for being out here. It’s amazing to hear the stories people share as they sign, especially from mothers and grandmothers who say it’s unacceptable that their daughters and granddaughters have fewer freedoms than they did.”

The Arizona Abortion Access Act will amend the Arizona Constitution to establish a fundamental right to abortion and ensure Arizonans, our families and providers – not politicians – have control over our healthcare decisions. It protects access to abortion up to the point of viability and to protect the patient’s health and life, as determined by the treating healthcare provider.

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