May 6, 2024 | Press Release
ST. PAUL — Minnesota Citizens Concerned for Life (MCCL) today called on state legislators to vote down the proposed “Equal Rights Amendment” because it deceives voters. The House Rules Committee voted this morning to advance the measure (SF 37).
“This bill conceals abortion-up-to-birth in innocuous language and attempts to dupe Minnesota’s citizens, who overwhelmingly oppose unlimited abortion, into unknowingly voting for just that,” said MCCL Co-Executive Director Cathy Blaeser.
If the bill passes, voters would be asked on the ballot about protecting equal rights based on "pregnancy" (among other things), with no mention or implication of abortion. But the actual amendment that would be adopted would protect the right to abortion (the right to decide "whether to become or remain pregnant") without limits.
Mohamed Amin Ahmed, from the Republican People of Color in Minnesota, testified: “Why would you trick us? To fool us? To ‘fool’ someone is to treat them like they are fools. We are not. Our people believe in American democracy. That’s why we came here. ... If your bill would lie to our people and trick us into voting for something that would kill our children, why should we ever trust you about anything you ever say to us?”
Carrena Falls, a student from the Twin Cities, testified on behalf of others of her generation: “As a college student and a member of Gen Z, I can tell you wholeheartedly that this extreme, unlimited abortion agenda is not something my generation supports. I urge you to question the morality of the deception in this piece of legislation, both for the sake of your sworn truthfulness to your constituents, and to earn and maintain the trust of young Minnesotans like me.”
Minnesota law already allows abortion without limits, but SF 37 would enshrine it into the Constitution and prevent future lawmakers from enacting even commonsense abortion policies. The proposal also excludes language safeguarding conscience and religious rights, removing protection for “creed” that was included in a previous version.
Only 30 percent of Minnesotans support the current no-limits abortion policy, according to both a Star Tribune/MPR News/KARE 11 poll and a KSTP/SurveyUSA poll.
The bill passed the Rules Committee by a vote of 9-5 and now goes to the full House for a floor vote that could come later this week. The 2024 session runs through Monday, May 20.