Weiland: Reproductive rights supporters of defeated Amendment G should not despair. They have sparked a movement.
Dakotans for Health co-founder Rick Weiland provided these comments after South Dakota voters overwhelmingly rejected the proposed Amendment G. Weiland also discussed the ongoing fight for women’s reproductive rights in South Dakota.
“We fell short yesterday but make no mistake — his fight is far from over,” he said. “The Right to Life politicians in this state made a $1.5 million promise to the voters of South Dakota. They said Amendment G was too extreme, and that there was a better way to address the catastrophic consequences of the total abortion ban they put in place. They promised they would find that better way, and now it’s time for them to deliver.
“To all of you who worked so hard to restore women’s rights — do not despair. You have forced these politicians to make a promise they can’t back out of,” Weiland said. “A promise to fix the mess their extreme total abortion ban has created. A promise to repair the damage to women’s health care. This is no small task, but it’s one they’ve committed to. Now, it’s their responsibility to keep it.
“The campaign for Amendment G (support banner shown above is from the Dakotans for Health Facebook page) sparked a movement — a movement of women, young and old, who found their voice and stood up for their rights. They spoke out, they fought hard, and they will not back down. It is these women and their determination who will hold the politicians accountable to their word.
“The message from South Dakota’s women is clear: ‘Either you end the ban and fix the health-care crisis your promises created — promises you made with that $3 million campaign on every billboard, phone call, and TV ad across this state — or we will be back, and we will do it for you.’
“This is their fight now. It is time for a new generation of leaders to step forward, take on this battle, and ensure that women’s rights are restored. We are inspired by their courage and their unwavering determination. Their voices are raised, and their resolve is strong. They are ready to lead, to follow through, and to make sure that the ‘We will not go back’ chant echoes in the ears of every politician who has promised to undo the harm they’ve caused.
“We are confident that the fight for women’s rights will continue, and together, we will win.”
Dakotans for Health is a grassroots organization focused on health care and protecting the democratic process. The organization was instrumental in the successful 2022 campaign to expand Medicaid coverage to 52,000 low-income South Dakotans. Dakotans for Health is dedicated to ensuring all South Dakotans have access to the care they need, no matter who they are, what they look like, or how much money they have.
