It’s been a year since the Legislature sneaked abortion restrictions into a motorcycle safety bill in a late-night session on the eve of a holiday weekend.
Tonight, advocates for women’s reproductive rights and Planned Parenthood’s political arm will hold a rally in Raleigh’s Bicentennial Mall, to protest House Speaker and U.S. Senate candidate Thom Tillis who the groups says “led the charge to pass the bill.”
A survey from the left-leaning polling group Public Policy Polling found that 80 percent of North Carolina voters thought it was inappropriate to combine abortion legislation with bills about motorcycle safety and Sharia law. 47 percent of voters opposed the legislation—which forces harsh restrictions on abortion providers— in general.
Tillis’s positions on women’s rights are extreme, sweeping and unpopular.
He has said he supports “personhood” amendments that could interfere with decisions about birth control, access to fertility treatment, management of a miscarriage and access to safe and legal abortion.
He has said he believes it should be up to states to decide whether to ban contraceptives.
Tillis said he supports last week’s Supreme Court ruling that gives corporations legal rights to deny their employees access to birth control.
Tonight’s rally is part of Planned Parenthood Votes Women are Watching campaign, “to ensure voters know the high stakes for women’s health this November and the clear contrast between Senator Kay Hagan and Thom Tillis when it comes to their health rights.”
Planned Parenthood will spend $3 million in North Carolina to mobilize voters for Tillis’ pro-choice opponent.
The rally begins at 6 p.m.
