Rep. Jim Olsen (R-Roland)
Credit Oklahoma House of Representatives
The representative from the far eastern Oklahoma town of Roland compared the push to ban abortion to the work of abolishish slavery, and said, If I had my choice, I guess I’d be a slave. At least the slave has his life.
During debate in the House Public Health committee over Senate Bill 612 to criminalize all abortions in Oklahoma, Olsen also compared legal abortion to the Holocaust.
Oklahoma Democratic Party Chair Alicia Andrews said in a statement that the organization demands an apology from Olsen, immediate censure by the House Speaker and the implementation of Diversity and Inclusion training.
A bill to criminalize abortion in Oklahoma is now one step away from the governor s desk.
Debate boiled over Wednesday when a lawmaker said eliminating abortion is more important than the historical fight to eradicate slavery.
After talking about the 30-year struggle to end slavery in Great Britain, Rep. Jim Olsen, R-Roland, referred to abortion, “This is a cause of even greater import because it deals with innocent and unborn life.”
“Just to clarify what you just said you re saying the lives of unborn children is more important than saving the lives of slaves?” Rep. Ajay Pittman, D-OKC, responded.
“None of us would like to be killed none of us would like to be a slave, but if I had my choice, I guess I would be a slave,” Olsen said. “At least the slave has his life.”
Oklahoma Republican Compares Banning Abortion to Fight Against Slavery
On 4/8/21 at 9:59 AM EDT
A state representative in Oklahoma has been criticised by some of his colleagues for comparing an attempt to ban abortion in the state, to the historic fight against slavery.
Representative Jim Olsen, a Republican, was speaking in favor of his bill, SB 612, which would make it a felony for doctors to perform abortions. During a committee hearing, he compared outlawing the procedure to efforts to abolish slavery in the Great Britain. This is a cause of even greater import because it deals with innocent unborn life, Olsen said. If we believe that these are really living human beings in the womb of a woman, then this is absolutely worth doing, even if it takes a long time.
A near-total abortion ban in Oklahoma is just two steps away from becoming law.On Wednesday, a House committee approved a bill that would ban the performance of abortion except in rare circumstances. It comes as Republican lawmakers across the country work to get abortion back in front of the U.S. Supreme Court.There’s been sharp debate during the entire Oklahoma legislative session over bills intended to limit or outlaw abortion. The debate escalated Wednesday as the Sooner State gets a step closer to a near-total abortion ban.The Public Health Committee was packed Wednesday while lawmakers voted 8-1 to advance a bill that would make it a felony to perform an abortion. The bill, however, would not punish the person who receives an abortion.Sarah Zarr, an anti-abortion activist with the group Students for Life, testified.“It’s time that Oklahoma fully recognizes the humanity and legally protects the lives of the pre-born,” Zarr said.Democratic state Rep. Denise Brewer qu
Oklahoma State Rep Says Controversial Slavery Comment Was Historically Appropriate newsweek.com - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from newsweek.com Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.