Yesterday, May 1st, the Pro-Abortion Group “Dakotans for Health” held a press conference in Sioux Falls to unveil their Abortion Constitutional Amendment’s 55,000 petition signatures. They have now turned them into the South Dakota Secretary of State’s Office in their hopes of placing this Abortion Constitutional Amendment on the ballot this November.
Across the street from the press conference Pro-Life SD Friends stepped up to the plate in opposition of this Amendment and for the Sanctity of Human Life (see photo below).
The deceptive language of the Abortion Amendment not only inserts cruel abortion up to birth into our state’s constitution but eliminates a parent’s right to know if an abortion is going to be performed on their minor daughter.
On top of this, the so-called “Dakotans for Health” organization used such underhanded tactics to secure signatures that the Attorney General issued a warning. Matters did not improve.
South Dakota Right to Life, along with the Life Defense Fund, and our many Pro-Life Allies, will make every effort in protecting our constitution, the rule of law, and the well-being of South Dakota’s women and children.”
In response to the submission of the Abortion Amendment Petition, Jon Hansen and Leslee Unruh, Co-Chairs of Life Defense Fund, said they will challenge the legitimacy of the Abortion Amendment Petition. They issued the following statement.
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Despite clear warnings from the Attorney General, thousands of signatures were collected by Rick Weiland’s organization in violation of South Dakota law.
If you signed this petition, did they tell you the Abortion Amendment would legalize late-term abortion after the baby is viable outside the womb and up to birth? Did they tell you the Abortion Amendment endangers women by banning safety standards for most abortions? Did they tell you the Abortion Amendment takes away parents’ right to know when their minor daughter is seeking an abortion?
In response to the unlawful and misleading actions of Rick Weiland and his paid petition circulators, Life Defense Fund will challenge the legitimacy of the Abortion Amendment petition in court.
Background: Life Defense Fund has collected evidence showing that Rick Weiland’s paid Abortion Amendment petition circulators failed to distribute the required circulator handout information to petition signers, failed to personally witness petition signatures, and even told citizens to sign the Abortion Amendment petition twice–all serious violations of South Dakota petition law. Moreover, Life Defense Fund has documented numerous instances where members of the public, upon asking to sign the petition to repeal the tax on groceries, were handed the Abortion Amendment petition to sign instead.
A copy of the letter from Attorney General Marty Jackley to Rick Weiland admonishing Rick Weiland over these violations–and also for misleading the public about the extent of the Abortion Amendment–can be found on the Attorney General’s website HERE.
LifeNews Note: Dale Bartscher is the Executive Director of South Dakota Right to Life
