Zimbabwean-American actress and playwright Danai Gurira has urged Arizona women to join the fight for reproductive rights and oppose restrictive laws that limit healthcare choices.
Speaking at the “Fighting for Reproductive Freedom” Bus Tour launch in Avondale, Arizona, Gurira said it is important to legalise abortion and ensure access to safe healthcare.
Since 2022, U.S. law has banned abortion except when the life or health of the patient is at serious risk.
The legislation, enforced in states like Texas, allows only licensed physicians to perform an abortion in life-threatening situations, mandating attempts to save the fetus unless doing so would endanger the patient.
Violations can lead to felony charges or fines up to $100,000.
Critics, including many Democrats, argue that this law puts lives at risk by deterring doctors from providing necessary care due to fears of prosecution.
Gurira, who has been campaigning across states to address misinformation and support Vice President Kamala Harris’s election bid, called her involvement “the most important thing” she has ever done.
“I was born in America but raised in Zimbabwe. Growing up, I saw the U.S. as a place where a girl could reach her fullest potential. Now, I’m shocked and disappointed by what’s happening. Banning abortion has led to the deaths of innocent women,” she said.
Gurira stressed that decisions about women’s reproductive health should remain between the patient and medical professionals, free from legal restrictions.
She also warned of the global influence of U.S. policies, stating, “When America coughs, the world catches a cold. The outcome of this election matters not just here but globally; we cannot afford to move backward on such a crucial issue.”
