During a House Oversight Committee hearing focused on the threats to abortion rights and access in states like Texas, Rep. Lila Green bravely shared her personal story of sexual assault and the subsequent decision to have an abortion. Her harrowing experience underscored the profound impact that restrictive abortion laws can have on individuals.
At just 17, Green attended a church event in Jackson, Missouri, where she encountered a 20-year-old who was a friend of a friend. Feeling at ease, she agreed to go to his room to chat. However, the situation quickly escalated into a nightmare. “Next thing I knew, he was on top of me, and I was frozen in shock, unsure of what to do,” she recounted. The aftermath left her feeling confused and ashamed, questioning whether she was to blame for what had happened.
Weeks later, after realizing she had missed her period, Green experienced a wave of panic. “I was 18, broke, and felt utterly alone,” she expressed, reflecting on the weight of her situation. By then, she was about nine weeks pregnant, past the point where Texas law would allow a termination today.
“How could I support a child at 18 years old?” she pondered. The realization that she couldn’t care for a child—especially knowing her family’s likely reaction—led her to make a heart-wrenching decision: to have an abortion. “It was the hardest choice I’ve ever made, but I knew it was right for me,” Green stated, despite facing discrimination and racism at the clinic.
She shared that she felt shamed during the procedure, with a counselor making insensitive remarks about the potential health of the fetus, leaving her feeling worse. “To all Black women and girls who have faced similar circumstances, we should feel no shame,” she affirmed. “We deserve better, we demand better, and we are worthy of better.”
Alongside her, other Democratic Congresswomen, including Pramila Jayapal and Barbara See, shared their own abortion narratives, highlighting the dangerous lengths women had to go to before Roe v. Wade legalized safe abortions in 1973. As states continue to impose restrictive laws, the stories of Green, Jayapal, and See serve as crucial reminders of the potential dangers women may face in the future.
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In summary, Rep. Lila Green’s courageous testimony highlights the struggles women face regarding reproductive rights, particularly in light of strict abortion laws. Her experience, along with those of other Congresswomen, emphasizes the importance of access to safe and legal abortion services.
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