The room was buzzing with excitement, anxiety, and optimism as the election night party reached its peak. At around 10:30 p.m., a wave of jubilation swept through the crowd when the news broke that Amendment 3 had been successfully passed. Embraces were shared, and tears of pure joy streamed down the faces of those who had dedicated their time and effort to making this moment possible. It was a realization that their perseverance had finally paid off.
Missouri became the first state to reverse its abortion ban after Amendment 3 was passed on election night. The amendment received support from 51.6% of voters, while 48.4% opposed it. This historic decision follows the Supreme Court’s overturning of Roe v. Wade in 2022.
Following the Supreme Court’s decision to overturn the historic 1973 case that established a woman’s right to choose, Missouri wasted no time in enacting its “trigger law” to ban abortion without delay. Passed in 2019, this law provides no exceptions for pregnancies resulting from rape or incest, only allowing for cases involving medical emergencies. This means that doctors who perform abortions could potentially be sentenced to up to 15 years in prison and lose their medical licenses.
Just weeks after the trigger law took effect, Mylissa Farmer, a resident of Missouri, experienced a miscarriage when she was 18 weeks pregnant. She was admitted to the hospital due to severe cramping and bleeding. At Freeman Health, doctors concluded that the pregnancy was no longer viable. However, since the fetus still had a heartbeat, the procedure Farmer required was classified as an abortion. Unfortunately, she was denied treatment by the doctors at Freeman Health, as well as at a hospital in Kansas. After hours of travel, she finally received care at Hope Clinic in Granite City, Illinois.
Farmer experienced agonizing pain for several days, which ultimately led to her being diagnosed with a severe infection. Unfortunately, this health crisis resulted in her losing both her job and her home.
Karen Bruntrager, a resident of Webster Groves, has always been a staunch supporter of pro-choice. Even as a young girl, she witnessed the historic Roe v. Wade case before the Supreme Court, which further solidified her belief in women’s reproductive rights. Over the years, she became an active member of the National Organization for Women in St. Louis, an influential grassroots organization dedicated to advocating for women’s rights on a national scale.
Upon hearing the Supreme Court’s ruling in June 2022, she experienced a profound sadness unlike anything she had ever felt before.
Bruntrager expressed his disapproval, stating, “It’s simply unjust. We have always been treated as second-class citizens.”
Like many Americans, she had concerns about the future of her loved ones.
“I may no longer be able to bear children, but that doesn’t diminish my concern for my daughters or daughters-in-law,” expressed Bruntrager.
The concern she felt prompted her to take action, just like many other Missourians who joined protests and displayed signs on their front lawns. These signs boldly proclaimed messages such as “My body, my choice,” “Keep your laws off my body,” and “Our blood is on your hands.”
A group of citizens known as Missourians for Constitutional Freedom took the lead in pushing for Amendment 3 to be included on the ballot. Their dedicated volunteers went door-to-door, collecting signatures from over 300,000 individuals. However, they faced opposition from conservative figures like Missouri Secretary of State Jay Ashcroft. At first, Ashcroft claimed that the measure did not meet the legal criteria for appearing on the ballot. Nevertheless, the Missouri Supreme Court ruled against Ashcroft, guaranteeing that Amendment 3 would be on the November ballot.
Rachel Sweet, campaign manager for Missourians for Constitutional Freedom and former lobbyist for Planned Parenthood, felt devastated when the High Court overturned Roe v. Wade. However, she recognized that it was a crucial moment that demanded immediate action.
“I firmly believe that every individual, regardless of their location or nationality, should have the freedom to make choices concerning their reproductive healthcare and bodily autonomy,” Sweet emphasized. “These decisions hold immense significance and can greatly impact a person’s life. It is not the place of politicians or governments to make these decisions on behalf of others.”
Sweet expressed her enthusiasm for the positive impact that one election and campaign can have on improving the lives of many people and making things easier for women in their state.
The amendment’s solidity is trusted by Sweet, but the Missouri legislature has a track record of disregarding the people’s will by either repealing or diluting ballot initiatives.
Maggie Olivia, the senior policy manager for Abortion Action Missouri, shares a personal connection to her work. In 2020, Olivia found herself in need of an abortion, which led her to become involved with the state’s leading pro-abortion rights organization.
Olivia expressed her pride in the fact that all of the individuals sharing their abortion stories and representing the Missourians for Constitutional Freedom campaign were residents of Missouri, sharing their genuine experiences within the state. She also highlighted the successful collaboration with 100 abortion storytellers from various parts of Missouri, all driven by the desire to take meaningful action.
“After Amendment 3 was passed, two Planned Parenthood locations in Missouri took legal action to restore abortion access throughout the state. Richard Muniz, interim president and CEO of Planned Parenthood Great Rivers, expressed, “Our organization served as the last abortion provider in Missouri before the Dobbs decision, which forced patients to bear the additional burden of traveling outside the state to visit our providers in Illinois – where abortion is legally available, safe, and without excessive obstacles. Our patients deserve the freedom to make decisions about their bodies, lives, and futures, and soon they won’t have to cross state borders to exercise that right. We are fully prepared to offer safe and legal abortion services once again in Missouri.”
St. Louis City, St. Louis County, and Kansas City played a significant role in overturning the abortion ban, as they accounted for the majority of the votes.
Starting December 5th, the state of Missouri will allow abortions until fetal viability, which typically occurs around 24 weeks.
