The liberal Hollywood empire is striking back against a new Georgia law that protects unborn babies from abortion once their heartbeats are detectable.
“Star Wars” producer J.J. Abrams said he and director Jordan Peele plan to donate the proceeds from their new show “Lovecraft Country” to fight against the pro-life law, the Atlanta Business Chronicle reports.
Their announcement comes as dozens of liberal celebrities, including “Star Wars” actor Mark Hamill, said they will boycott the state because of the heartbeat law. Actress Alyssa Milano also is urging women to go on a “sex strike” to protest.
Georgia is a popular filming location for TV and movies because of tax breaks, and Abrams said they will continue to film there. However, he said he and Peele will donate 100 percent of the proceeds from their HBO show to two pro-abortion groups fighting the law: the ACLU and Fair Fight Georgia, according to Bustle.
“Governor Kemp’s ‘Fetal Heartbeat’ Abortion Law is an unconstitutional effort to further restrict women and their health providers from making private medical decisions on their terms,” they said in a joint statement. “Make no mistake, this is an attack aimed squarely and purposely at women.”
Peele, known for directing “Us” and “Get Out,” runs Monkeypaw Productions, while Abrams heads Bad Robot Productions, both of which plan to donate their episode fees to the abortion groups, according to the report.
All this spring, Hollywood liberals have been protesting the heartbeat bill by calling for a boycott of the state. Celebrities including Alec Baldwin, Amy Schumer, Rosie O’Donnell, Sean Penn, Mia Farrow and Ben Stiller joined Milano in their condemnation of the bill.
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Star Wars actors Mark Hamill and Natalie Portman said they also would boycott the state.
Some companies oppose the pro-life measure as well, including Amazon.com and Coca-Cola Co., The Atlanta Business Chronicle reports.
Last week, Gov. Brian Kemp signed the heartbeat bill into law. It passed the state legislature earlier this spring.
The Living Infants Fairness and Equality Act would ban abortions on an unborn baby after their heartbeat is detectable, around six weeks. It would allow exceptions for rape, incest and threats to the mother’s life. In addition, the bill would allow parents to claim unborn babies as dependents on their taxes and include the unborn baby in census data. It also would allow mothers to collect child support for pregnancy and delivery costs from the father prior to the baby’s birth.
“The Living Infants Fairness and Equality Act … recognizes something that many have know for years. It recognizes that science tells us that children in the womb are living, distinct human beings that are worthy of full legal protection,” Kemp said during the signing ceremony.
AL.com reports the ACLU of Georgia responded immediately afterward with plans to sue to block the law.
“Every federal court that has heard a challenge to a similar ban has ruled that it’s unconstitutional,” spokesman Sean Young said.
Kemp acknowledged the possibility of a lawsuit when he signed the law, the Huffington Post reports.
“I realize some may challenge it in the court of law,” the governor said. “But our job is to do what is right, not what is easy.”
Some pro-lifers have renewed hope that the new conservative-majority U.S. Supreme Court will uphold an abortion ban and overturn Roe v. Wade. Others, however, are hesitant because of concerns about losing the court battle and being forced to reimburse pro-abortion groups for their legal fees.
Recently, a federal judge blocked Kentucky’s new heartbeat bill. In January, a judge also declared Iowa’s heartbeat law unconstitutional. North Dakota and Arkansas passed heartbeat bills several years ago, but federal courts struck down their laws as well.
There is more hope that the U.S. Supreme Court may consider an abortion ban, but it is difficult to say if it would for certain – especially after Chief Justice John Roberts recently sided with the liberal justices on an abortion case.
