Up First from NPR The Activists Working to Abolish IVF
Oct 6, 2024
NPR journalist Sarah McCammon, an expert on the abortion abolitionist movement, sheds light on a growing group of activists advocating for the ban of both abortions and certain fertility treatments like IVF. They argue that embryos deserve full human rights, sparking intense ethical and moral debates. McCammon reports from a protest outside an IVF clinic, where the activists voice their stark opposition and highlight their beliefs, intertwining personal narratives and religion with their quest for legislative change.
AI Snips
Chapters
Transcript
Episode notes
Shifting Stances on Abortion
- Some Republicans are softening their stance on abortion restrictions to appeal to swing voters.
- Former President Trump, for example, criticized Florida's six-week abortion ban.
Abortion Abolitionist Goals
- Abortion abolitionists seek a total ban on abortion, without exceptions, and the criminalization of all involved.
- They differ from other anti-abortion groups by advocating for treating abortion as homicide, punishable by the death penalty.
Abolitionists vs. Mainstream Anti-Abortion
- Unlike mainstream anti-abortion groups, abolitionists oppose all embryo destruction, including in IVF treatments.
- They believe embryos deserve the same rights as humans, a stance not universally shared within the anti-abortion movement.