Tennessee Prayer Group’s SHAMEFUL Reaction To Pregnancy Loss Story Amid Campaign For Death Penalty Abortion Bill Goes Viral — WATCH
This is incredibly disturbing to see…
Allie Phillips, who is running to represent District 75 in the Tennessee House of Representatives, posted a video to Instagram on Tuesday of an anti-choice group praying outside a Tennessee House subcommittee, which was voting on the state’s Bill 570. If you don’t know, House Bill 570 sought to remove the current legal protections for pregnant women and classify harm done to an unborn child as equal to harm done to a “person born alive.” That would classify abortion as a homicide — even if it occurred outside of the state. If enacted, women who obtained this treatment could then face life in prison or, in some cases, the death penalty.
It is already nearly impossible to get an abortion in Tennessee. The majority of procedures are banned at all stages of a pregnancy following the termination of Roe v. Wade, except for a limited number of exceptions, including medical emergencies to save the mother’s life or prevent major, permanent bodily harm. The current law doesn’t even include an exception for cases of rape or incest.
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Performing an abortion right now could result in up to 15 years in prison and fines for physicians. If Tennessee lawmakers succeeded in also criminalizing women for obtaining a medical procedure, they would have one of the strictest and harshest bans in the country — when pregnant women are already suffering, sometimes deadly, consequences as it is under the current one. Imagine how much worse it’d be if this passed. It’s not OK.
So, Allie bravely came forward to share her abortion story, and this prayer group’s reaction was beyond disappointing. It’s not surprising, but it is, nevertheless, disappointing. The video begins with the group saying a prayer for the bill to be passed:
“We’re going to pray that God will move the hearts of these people that have told us they will be advocates for the unborn. Amen? So we’re going to pray and we can do that. The Bible says to go into all the world and preach and I think we can pray too. Amen? Amen. That’s right. Glory. In the name of Jesus, we pray. Amen.”
Allie then chimed in to ask for a “a prayer request” and asked if they “pray for the mothers as well or just the babies.” Although a man said they “pray for everybody,” the politician pointed out that she “didn’t hear anything about the mothers” before opening up about her harrowing pregnancy loss:
“I’m just asking because my name is Allie Phillips. I don’t know if anybody knows me, but I had to flee our state in 2023 to get access to an abortion. I know that word might be triggering for some people, but I was 20 weeks pregnant for a planned and wanted pregnancy. Her name was going to be Miley Rose. I had a five-year-old daughter at home.”
According to Allie, she and her husband found out her daughter “was not compatible with life” at her anatomy scan. And despite her life being at risk if she continued the pregnancy, her doctor informed her she couldn’t get an abortion — not in Tennessee, at least. Allie shared:
“I was told by my doctor, by my maternal fetal medicine specialist, that if I chose to continue my pregnancy, I would be putting my health and life at risk. I asked her what my options were in Tennessee, and she said well Tennessee just passed the trigger ban, and so abortion was not an option, and if that’s something I wanted to do, I would have to look out of state. She said otherwise, I can continue my pregnancy, but know that I would be at risk of a miscarriage, or if she survived two births, she would be born as a stillborn, and I would have to watch my daughter suffocate and die after birth.”
Allie “made a decision that abortion was going to be the best decision” and sought health care out of state. At 21 weeks pregnant, she “flew to New York City” and went to a clinic by herself since “it was patient only,” meaning not even her husband was allowed inside. But before Allie could continue her story, a man interrupted, telling her to “respect this is a prayer request.” A different guy chimed in to say Amanda would pray for her while another man entered the chat to try to talk to her. Does anyone else notice it’s all men? Meanwhile, Allie is repeatedly yelling, “I did not finish my story.” The activist also added:
“I do not appreciate men talking over me.”
One man in a suit started to pray instead during all this, saying she “chose to murder” her child. WTF. It can be scary and intimidating when all these men are getting in her space and ganging up on her, but Allie refused to back down. She pointed out she has “been very kind” and “just wanted to share my story.” To which the guy who said the prayer replied:
“I’ve heard your story.”
Allie fired back:
“Look this is a group of people that probably wish I was dead right now.”
And a man responded that they don’t, they just “wish you didn’t kill someone else,” which is NOT what happened. Allie tried to continue to the next part of her story but continued to get interrupted:
“I made it to the clinic in New York City, got inside, and found out my daughter was already dead. … Okay, I’m not done. I’m not done. Let me finish. Can you let me finish? Do you make it a habit talking over women when they’re talking about a traumatic story? Please stop talking. Please stop talking to me. Please stop talking to me.” “
How gross of these guys. OMG. They should be ashamed of themselves. Allie went on to say:
“My daughter was dead, and my body was not expelling her. So then I found out I was at risk of sepsis, blood clots, or infection. So I had to undergo an abortion within an hour of finding out that my daughter was gone — without my husband, without my doctors, and without my family. That is an abortion because an abortion is the deliberate termination of a pregnancy. I was still pregnant even though she was passed.”
Someone then cut in again to say “the child was dead.” Jeez. Allie replied:
“Thank you for clarifying that. I knew that.”
When one man tried to argue that she then didn’t have an abortion, Allie clapped back:
“It was an abortion. Would you like to look at my medical paperwork?”
The guy didn’t stop, though. He said:
“We’ve gone through it ourselves. We have 11 children. We’ve lost two children in the same manner.”
They both apologized for each other’s “losses” before Allie stressed that her “medical paperwork says” she “had an abortion.” The guy wouldn’t listen, however, telling her that “it’s only an abortion if you’re killing a living child.” Allie hits back with:
“No, where in an abortion does it say killing? It just says termination of a pregnancy.”
The man tried to say that “the child had to be expelled from the womb,” which happens “through normal miscarriage process,” not realizing that a miscarriage is also medically classified as “a spontaneous abortion.” But he still doesn’t seem to understand what she’s saying, insisting that it is “different than a deliberate killing of a living child.” Allie explained that, medically, an abortion is simply “the removal of the fetus,” though. Period. End of discussion. It’s incredibly infuriating that these guys are trying to mansplain women’s health. And it’s even more terrifying when you realize these men are advocating for women to possibly be put to death for getting an abortion when they themselves don’t even understand what an abortion actually is.
Ultimately, these men are missing her overall point — or, more likely, do not care to really listen, to really hear her. Again, the bill would put Allie, or any other woman who has an abortion, up for an investigation and criminal charges, which is SO wrong. As Allie pointed out:
“An investigation for my daughter dying in my womb. Do you not see how f**king insane that is? … You don’t understand why you’re here advocating for it. I wanted my daughter to live. Are you serious? Why are you advocating for this?”
When one man accused her of “advocating for the death of those babies,” she insisted:
“No, I’m not. I’m advocating for women to have a right to choose what happens to their bodies. … Because of that abortion, I was able to have another baby. If not, I would be dead right now.”
Allie also reminded these guys, who are surrounding her at this point:
“Here’s the thing. Not a single one of you will ever have an abortion or ever be pregnant. So I really would encourage you to step way the f**k back.”
Spoiler: they don’t! Allie carried on with the argument with them, noting that Tennessee doesn’t have any exceptions for rape or incest. She then questioned:
“So if any little girl up here got raped, you’re telling her that she should face homicide or homicide charges if she chooses an abortion.”
One of the men just replied:
“We don’t think she should choose an abortion.”
That wasn’t a no, which is extremely horrifying. And when Allie asked if they wouldn’t want her to have an abortion even if the teenager was raped, you know what his response was? He said:
“She’s already a mother by rape.”
How sick and twisted to suggest a child should go through that trauma and give birth, or else possibly face the death penalty if she chooses to have an abortion. Horrific. Absolutely horrific. You can watch Allie’s entire encounter with the group HERE.
The video has since gone viral, with social media users writing:
“I applaud Allie’s courage and determination to speak firmly on behalf of not only herself but others who’ve faced similar heartbreaking decisions. Those pounding her relentlessly with their judgments, self-righteousness, and condemnations are one day going to face their own.”
“Allie is braver than all the weak, controlling, “Christian” cosplayers in this circle combined.”
“There is a lot of ‘what-about-isms’ from the guys who are peppering her with stupid questions. As a man and ally, they need to stay out of a woman’s uterus.”
“Not surprised it was a group of men surrounding and talking over you.”
“Wow.. the complete lack of compassion and humanity from all of these people interrupting her to “pray”. Thank you @allie4tn for your courage”
“Wild to be “pro life” when u can’t even protect children from being killed in schools. Stores. Movie theaters. Etc. their own homes!!!”
“People that do not understand what abortion means are trying to force laws on women’s health.”
“Hallelujah! We heard you loud and clear @allie4tn. Thank you for standing up to a room of men praying to subjugate women.”
Thankfully, the extremely controversial bill failed to pass in the subcommittee on Tuesday before it could advance.
We also applaud Allie standing up for women and holding her ground. She did an incredible job. What are your reactions, Perezcious readers? Sound OFF in the comments (below)!
[Image via Allie Phillips/Instagram]
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