Kamala Harris Blasts Alabama Court Ruling That Embryo Is an Unborn Child

Vice President Harris criticized the recent ruling by the Alabama Supreme Court, which categorized frozen embryos as individuals, calling it hypocritical and attributing blame to former President Trump.

Harris expressed concern that the ruling would obstruct individuals and couples seeking to start a family by limiting their access to reproductive assistance.

Harris slams Alabama IVF ruling as hypocritical, 'shocking' https://t.co/mjFErEBf51

— Tim McBride (@mcbridetd) February 23, 2024

She noted the contradiction in denying both the right to terminate unwanted pregnancies and the right to pursue parenthood.

Although the ruling did not explicitly outlaw in vitro fertilization (IVF), experts cautioned that it could hinder IVF procedures, potentially leading to the destruction of embryos.

As a result, three clinics in Alabama have halted IVF treatments. Harris emphasized the broader implications of the ruling, suggesting it would intensify the ongoing battle over reproductive rights.

Addressing reporters, Harris characterized the decision as shocking yet unsurprising in the aftermath of the Dobbs decision. She criticized the erosion of reproductive healthcare access, particularly IVF, and highlighted the inconsistency of restricting both abortion and fertility treatments.

“The hypocrisy [abounds] on this issue when you also consider that in the top 10 states with maternal mortality, there are abortion bans,” she said.

Harris squarely attributed the current state of affairs to Trump's efforts to reshape the Supreme Court, culminating in decisions like the one in Alabama.

She also condemned the "hypocrisy" of restricting reproductive rights while neglecting maternal health concerns, especially affecting Black women.

Harris made these remarks during a roundtable discussion in Michigan, part of her "Fight for Reproductive Freedoms" tour.

President Biden echoed Harris's sentiments, denouncing the ruling as unacceptable and linking it to Trump's judicial appointments. The Biden-Harris reelection campaign criticized pro-life Republicans as it seeks to make abortion a key issue during the efforts for a second term.