Comment JACKSON, Miss. — Attorneys for Mississippi’s only abortion clinic filed papers Thursday asking the state Supreme Court to block a new law banning most abortions and let the clinic reopen next week. The clinic, Jackson Women’s Health Organization, is at the center of the recent US Supreme Court decision that overturned Roe v. Wade and removed women’s constitutional protections for abortion nationwide. A Mississippi law that took effect Thursday bans most abortions, and the clinic performed its last procedures on Wednesday. Lawyers for the clinic are making the same arguments that a lower court judge rejected Tuesday as the clinic tried to block the law from being implemented. They said that in 1998, the Mississippi Supreme Court ruled that the state constitution has a right to privacy that includes abortion. “Absent relief, Mississippians will continue to be denied their Mississippi Constitution rights to privacy and bodily autonomy as they are forced by the state to endure the risks of pregnancy and bear children against their will,” he wrote. clinic attorney Rob McDuff. It was not immediately clear when the conservative state Supreme Court would hear the appeal. Diane Derzis, owner of the Mississippi clinic, told The Associated Press that she would have staff available to reopen the facility if the state Supreme Court allows it. “I’m not optimistic, but there’s always a possibility,” Derzis said Thursday. As for the legal filing and trying to keep it open, he said, “All of us should have known we’ve exhausted all options.” The Mississippi clinic is better known as the Pink House because of its bright paint. Some staff members were in Thursday to do paperwork and follow-up appointments for some patients. About 30 abortion opponents held a Christian worship service on a street next to the clinic. “No more killing innocent children here,” said Dr. Coleman Boyd, a doctor who has often protested outside the clinic. “Christ is rising. Innocent blood was spilled in this building.” Several abortion opponents shouted at Dr. Cheryl Hamlin as she arrived. Hamlin is an OB/GYN who has traveled from Boston for the past five years to perform abortions in Mississippi. She walked across the clinic’s parking lot and jabbed her finger at pro-abortion protester John Busby, who called on her to repent. “You guys are idiots,” Hamlin said. “You do not care. You will go to hell. You. You will burn in hell. I’m so sick of you.” As Hamlin walked away, Busby called out to her, “You will die in your sin, Cheryl, unless you repent of Jesus Christ.” Also Thursday, North Dakota’s only abortion clinic filed a state lawsuit seeking to block an enabling law banning abortions after the U.S. Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade, the landmark 1973 decision. The Red River Women’s Clinic argues that the ban violates the rights to life, safety and happiness guaranteed by the state constitution that protects the right to abortion. He said the ban also violates the right to liberty because it “deprives patients of the ability to control decisions about their families and their health.” The North Dakota lawsuit is just the latest push to impose abortion restrictions after the Supreme Court said the procedure is no longer protected by the US Constitution. The lawsuit also challenges Attorney General Drew Wrigley’s statement that the ban would go into effect on July 28. The clinic argued that the Supreme Court issued its opinion on June 24 but has yet to issue its decision, which it said is a necessary step to trigger the state ban. The clinic said the high court usually takes this step at least 25 days after the opinion. In qualifying the closing date, Wrigley said there was “no ambiguity” in the Supreme Court’s decision. He said Thursday that his office is “carefully reviewing and evaluating” the complaint, but that he would not comment further until his response is filed. Tammi Kromenaker, owner and operator of the Red River Women’s Clinic in Fargo, said the facility would be moved across the river to Moorhead, Minnesota, if necessary, but would explore every legal option to stay open in North Dakota. “We have faced relentless attacks from North Dakota lawmakers who have long wanted us out,” Kromenaker said in announcing the lawsuit. “But we will fight this draconian ban like the other outrageous bans and restrictions that came before it.” “In the meantime, we will keep our doors open to provide abortion care to patients who need us,” she said. Also on Thursday, national leaders who support abortion access were in South Carolina on Thursday when a committee considering an “abortion ban” bill met for the first time to hear public testimony. While a South Carolina law banning abortion around six weeks into pregnancy went into effect on June 27, lawmakers are expected to return to a special session to further restrict the procedure. Planned Parenthood Action Fund President Alexis McGill Johnson came to the state a day after an appearance in North Carolina, where Democratic Gov. Roy Cooper signed an executive order protecting out-of-state abortion patients from extradition. He praised North Carolina as an abortion “sanctuary” and condemned the efforts of South Carolina lawmakers. “All of these laws are designed to create chaos and confusion for people seeking access to care,” Planned Parenthood Action Fund President Alexis McGill Johnson told The Associated Press. Dave Kolpack reported from Fargo, North Dakota and James Pollard from Columbia, South Carolina. For AP’s full coverage of the Supreme Court’s abortion decision, go to
