May 15, 2023:

North Carolina Democratic Governor Roy Cooper vetoed a bill banning all abortions in North Carolina after 12 weeks of pregnancy, previously 20 weeks. This means Cooper rejected this bill proposed by Senator Ed Durr. Roy Cooper claimed that this bill would put an end to abortion across the state, something he is not ready for. 

On CBS “Face the Nation,” Cooper said, “It will effectively ban many abortions altogether, because of the obstacles that they have created for women, for clinics, and for doctors.” Though the Governor has vetoed the bill, it could be overridden by Republican legislators. 

This bill will reduce women’s freedom to decide what they want to do with their own bodies. Since Roe v. Wade was overturned, North Carolina has become one of the few states on the southeastern border where women still have reproductive freedom. If this bill is overridden, that safe haven will be taken away. 

May 17, 2023:

Both the North Carolina Senate and House voted to override Governor Cooper on May 16, 2023. This bill will now become law on July 1st. This means that the 12-week abortion ban will take effect this summer. This will severely restrict abortion across the state, having a lasting effect on both women in North Carolina and surrounding states. 

Governor Cooper was at a veto rally in Raleigh on Saturday. From ‘CBSNews,’ “Forward is the only way ahead, but I know one thing for certain, standing in the way of progress right now is this Republican supermajority legislature that only took 48 hours to turn the clock back 50 years on women’s health,—that’s exactly what this bill does.”