\"My daughter was 1 year old and I knew financially I couldn't afford another baby. It was the hardest, most painful and deeply personal decision I've made in my life. The government involving itself in such intensely private matters is ridiculous #youknowme,\" one woman tweeted.
\"We were in love, in college and not ready for a baby, I called my doctor. Found out it was a tubal pregnancy, so I had an abortion. My partner was so loving and kind during all of it, it brought us closer together. We now have 2 kids, we’ve been together for 20yrs. #YouKnowMe,\" added another.
Philipps' campaign comes on the heels of the Alabama state Senate approving one of the nation's most controversial and restrictive abortion laws, which makes performing an abortion a felony. There is no exemption for cases of rape and incest, which means victims would need to carry the pregnancy to term, though it does allow for the procedure in situations where the woman's health is at risk.
The American Civil Liberties Union of Alabama has already vowed to file a lawsuit to stop the ban. Meanwhile, \"heartbeat bills,\" or laws that would make it illegal for a woman to get an abortion after cardiac activity is detected in a pregnancy, have been passed this year in Georgia, Ohio, Kentucky and Mississippi. A fetal heartbeat can be detected as early as six weeks into a pregnancy, which is when many women discover they're expecting. All of these laws are facing legal challenges, too.
Even before Philipps launched the #youknowme campaign, a handful of celebrities spoke out about their abortions in light of the new laws. \"The Good Place\" star Jameela Jamil tweeted Monday that she had an abortion when she was young and \"it was the best decision I have ever made.\" The next day, actress Milla Jovovich shared that she had an emergency abortion two years ago, when she went into pre-term labor at four-and-a-half months pregnant.
\"It was one of the most horrific experiences I have ever gone through. I still have nightmares about it. I was alone and helpless. When I think about the fact that women might have to face abortions in even worse conditions than I did because of new laws, my stomach turns,\" she wrote. \"Abortion is a nightmare at its best. No woman wants to go through that. But we have to fight to make sure our rights are preserved to obtain a safe one if we need to. I never wanted to speak about this experience. But I cannot remain silent when so much is at stake.\"
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I don’t like to get political and I try to only do it if a really have to and this is one of those times. If someone doesn’t want to continue reading, you have been warned. Our rights as women to obtain safe abortions by experienced doctors are again at stake. Last Tuesday, Georgia Governor Brian Kemp signed a draconian bill into law that outlaws all abortions after six weeks — before most women even realize they’re pregnant — including in cases of RAPE OR INCEST. This makes Georgia the sixth state to pass such a restrictive six-week abortion ban, joining Ohio, Mississippi, Kentucky, Iowa, and North Dakota. These laws haven’t been passed yet, but lawmakers in these states are trying. Abortion is hard enough for women on an emotional level without having to go through it in potentially unsafe and unsanitary conditions. I myself went through an emergency abortion 2 years ago. I was 4 1/2 months pregnant and shooting on location in Eastern Europe. I went into pre term labor and told that I had to be awake for the whole procedure. It was one of the most horrific experiences I have ever gone through. I still have nightmares about it. I was alone and helpless. When I think about the fact that women might have to face abortions in even worse conditions than I did because of new laws, my stomach turns. I spiraled into one of the worst depressions of my life and had to work extremely hard to find my way out. I took time off of my career. I isolated myself for months and had to keep a strong face for my two amazing kids. I started gardening, eating healthier and going to the gym everyday because I didn’t want to jump into taking anti depressants unless I had tried every other alternative. Thank God I was able to find my way out of that personal hell without turning to medication, but the memory of what I went through and what I lost will be with me till the day I die. Abortion is a nightmare at its best. No woman wants to go through that. But we have to fight to make sure our rights are preserved to obtain a safe one if we need to. I never wanted to speak about this experience. But I cannot remain silent when so much is at stake. #prochoice #prochoicegeneration
A post shared by Milla Jovovich (@millajovovich) on May 14, 2019 at 11:02am PDT
