GhLinks Media
Addison Gardner, a 12-year-old gave passionate testimony on Wednesday at the West Virginia legislature, opposing a new abortion ban that would outlaw the procedure in all but the most extreme cases.
She spoke as the House passed a bill to ban abortion in the state, where it’s currently legal up to 20 weeks, allowing for limited exemptions for medical emergencies and complications but not for rape or incest.
“I play for varsity volleyball and I run track. My education is very important to me, and I plan on doing great things in life,” she said. “If a man decides that I’m an object, and does unspeakable, tragic things to me, am I, a child, supposed to carry and birth another child?”
“Am I to put my body through the physical trauma of pregnancy? Am I to suffer the mental implications, a child who had no say in what was being done with my body?” she continued. “Some here say they are pro-life. What about my life? Does my life not matter to you?”
‘Am I to put my body through the physical trauma of pregnancy? Am I to suffer the mental implications, a child who had no say in what was being done with my body?’ she added, according to The Independent.
‘Some here say they are pro-life. What about my life? Does my life not matter to you?’
Gardner was one of about 90 people who spoke in the public hearing, sharing their personal stories about abortion or women’s rights ahead of the chamber passing a law to ban it.
The session became heated, with security escorting out many female members speaking at the hearing.
