South Dakota Republican Governor Kristi Noem celebrated the closing of the state’s last abortion business on Thursday, challenging those in her state to “redouble” the focus on helping mothers in crisis.
Noem shared the statement in a Twitter post that included a link to the news of her state’s abortion-free status.
“Abortions have stopped in South Dakota. We have prayed for this day, and now it is here,” Noem wrote.
“Now, we must redouble our focus on taking care of mothers in crisis. Help is available for you. Adoption is an option. You are never alone,” she added.
Abortions have stopped in South Dakota. We have prayed for this day, and now it is here.
Now, we must redouble our focus on taking care of mothers in crisis. Help is available for you. Adoption is an option. You are never alone.https://t.co/dlBs6sd7R8
— Governor Kristi Noem (@govkristinoem) June 16, 2022
The closure of the state’s last operating abortion business makes South Dakota the second state in America to attain the status. Oklahoma Republican Governor Kevin Stitt recently signed a law banning most abortions from the point of conception.
“Although Roe v. Wade remains the law of the land, women can no longer get a legal abortion in two states, Oklahoma and South Dakota,” The New York Times reported.
“In at least one other, Missouri, the only clinic is booked and not accepting new appointments. And in a fourth state, Wisconsin, clinics will not schedule abortions for after the end of the Supreme Court’s term in late June,” it added. “The only clinic in South Dakota, Planned Parenthood in Sioux Falls, which also served patients from North Dakota and Minnesota, performed its last abortion Monday, even though the state has not yet banned it.”
Noem also stated last month that if the Supreme Court’s leaked draft about overturning Roe v. Wade is accurate, she would call a special session to protect the lives of unborn children.
“If this report is true and Roe v. Wade is overturned, I will immediately call for a special session to save lives and guarantee that every unborn child has a right to life in South Dakota,” Noem wrote.
If this report is true and Roe v. Wade is overturned, I will immediately call for a special session to save lives and guarantee that every unborn child has a right to life in South Dakota. https://t.co/oIiGibCP7B
— Governor Kristi Noem (@govkristinoem) May 3, 2022
In addition, Noem announced two pro-life bills on the day of the March for Life demonstration in January. The governor’s office announced the pieces of legislation, with one bill seeking to ban abortions once a fetal heartbeat can be detected and another looking to ban telemedicine abortions in the state.
“Every human life is unique and beautiful from the moment it is conceived. Every life is worthy of our protection, worthy of the right to live,” Noem said. “We hope that this year’s March for Life will be the last and that the Supreme Court will finally protect every unborn life. But until that comes to pass, these bills will ensure that both unborn children and their mothers are protected in South Dakota.”
The office noted, “Governor Noem previewed her heartbeat legislation last year when she directed her Unborn Child Advocate to review South Dakota laws and ensure that we have the strongest pro-life laws on the books in South Dakota.”