Alabama teen who was turned away from an abortion clinic: 'I just started crying'
On Anderson Cooper 360 Monday, CNN’s Randi Kaye spoke with an 18-year-old woman at an Alabama abortion clinic who had just been informed that she could no longer get the procedure in the state. She believed she had more time following the Supreme Court overturning Roe v. Wade, but Alabama quickly banned the procedure, along with other states.
“I just started crying. I don’t think it’s fair,” the woman said. “No matter the situation, I feel like you should be able to have an abortion.”
The young woman is now just one of millions of women in the U.S. that may be forced to travel hundreds of miles to a state where abortions are still legal. The woman said she is going to try to do just that.
“I know I’m gonna get it done, but — look, I’m gonna try ‘cause I don’t want it and I don’t want to have it,” the woman said. “So I’m gonna try to go somewhere, but it’s just stressful because I feel like I might not be able to find a place in time.”
Kaye also spoke with a young woman who got an abortion just days before the Supreme Court handed down the decision.
“I’m proud of the decision I made,” the woman said. Asked what she thinks of all the women who will no longer be able to get an abortion, she said, “I feel so bad for those girls because this was a hard decision for me. I couldn’t imagine being looked in my face and told no.”
Video Transcript
RANDI KAY: So you thought you could still come here and get an abortion today?
- Yes.
RANDI KAY: And what did you think when you realized you couldn't get one?
- I just started crying.
I just don't think it's fair. No matter the situation, I feel like you should be able to have an abortion.
- On "Anderson Cooper 360" Monday, an 18-year-old from Alabama, who wished to remain anonymous, spoke with CNN's Randi Kay at an abortion clinic after being told she could no longer get the procedure.
The woman thought she had more time following the Supreme Court overturning Roe v. Wade before the ban would take effect. But Alabama was one of several states that quickly banned abortion following the decision.
- I know I'm going to get it done, but, like, I'm going to try, because I don't want it. I don't want to have it, so I'm going to try to go somewhere. But it's just stressful, because I feel like I might not be able to find a place in time.
- The woman is just one of millions who may be forced to travel hundreds of miles in order to get the procedure.
Kay also spoke with a young woman who got an abortion just days before the decision, and she feels for the woman being turned away.
- I'm proud of the decision I made.
RANDI KAY: What do you think about all those women who have been turned away, or had appointments canceled, and now will no longer be able to get an abortion here?
- I feel so bad for those girls, because I remember, this was a hard decision for me. I couldn't imagine being looked in my face and told no.
