‘What about my life?’: Girl, 12, makes impassioned speech in defense of abortion in front of West Virginia legislature saying ‘if a man does unspeakable things to me am I to birth another child?’
Addison Gardner, 12, was one of about 90 people who spoke in West Virginia House of Delegates as legislators passed a law criminalizing abortion
The bill granted exemptions for medical emergencies but not for rape or incest
It comes after the US Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade last month
By Tom Brown For Mailonline
Published: 06:12 EDT, 28 July 2022 | Updated: 09:15 EDT, 28 July 2022
A 12-year-old gave a speech at the West Virginia House of Delegates on Wednesday in opposition to new legislation outlawing abortion in the state.
She spoke as the House passed a bill to ban abortion in the state, where it's currently legal up to 20 weeks, allowing for limited exemptions for medical emergencies and complications but not for rape or incest.
'I play for varsity volleyball and I run track. My education is very important to me, and I plan on doing great things in life,' Buffalo Middle School student Addison Gardner told lawmakers during a special session.
'If a man decides that I’m an object, and does unspeakable, tragic things to me, am I, a child, supposed to carry and birth another child?'
She added: 'Am I to put my body through the physical trauma of pregnancy? Am I to suffer the mental implications, a child who had no say in what was being done with my body?' she added, according to The Independent.
'Some here say they are pro-life. What about my life? Does my life not matter to you?'
Gardner was one of about 90 people who spoke in the public hearing, sharing their personal stories about abortion or women's rights ahead of the chamber passing a law to ban it.
The session became heated, with security escorting out many female members speaking at the hearing.
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https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-11057409/Girl-12-makes-impassioned-speech-defense-abortion-West-Virginia-legislature.html
