Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey signed House Bill 314, “Human Life Protection Act” into law Wednesday, exploding the myth that white women in power are, by default, less misogynist, less ignorant, less hateful, and less racist than their male-counterparts simply by virtue of their womanhood.
This archaic law, a clear challenge to 1973’s landmark Roe v Wade decision, is a near-total abortion ban—making no exceptions for rape or incest survivors, and reclassifying abortion as a Class A felony punishable by up to 99 years in prison for doctors who provide them.
“Today, I signed into law the Alabama Human Life Protection Act,” Ivey wrote in a statement Wednesday evening. “To the bill’s many supporters, this legislation stands as a powerful testament to Alabamians’ deeply held belief that every life is precious & that every life is a sacred gift from God.”
This is what fascism looks like.
As ESSENCE previously reported, the Alabama law will not go into effect for another six months—and it still won’t happen without a fight. The ACLU responded to Ivey on Twitter, “You can’t say we didn’t warn you, @GovernorKayIvey. See you in court.”
Ivey’s signing comes on the heels of Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp signing the ”fetal heartbeat” bill into law last week, prohibiting abortions after a 6 weeks gestational period.