PROTECT OUR RIGHTS RELEASES NEW TV AD: WATCHED

Current abortion ban forced Kimberly Paseka to bleed for weeks

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

OCTOBER 15, 2024

MEDIA CONTACT: media@protectourrights.com

LINCOLN, NE — Today, Protect Our Rights, Initiative 439, released a new television ad titled WATCHED. The ad recounts the true, heartbreaking story of Kimberly Paseka, a wife and mother who, due to the restrictions in the current abortion ban, was forced to bleed at home as she awaited the inevitable end of a pregnancy. The current abortion ban and Initiative 434 do not provide exceptions for abortions in the cases of fatal fetal anomalies.

In WATCHED, Kimberly recalls her devastating third pregnancy that did not make it to term. Her baby had a slowing and nonviable heartbeat, but her options were limited because her life and health were not at risk as required under the current law. Her doctor instructed her to return to their office every week and wait for “expectant management.” Kimberly bled for several weeks. Nausea, back labor, and contractions paralyzed her, and she eventually completed her miscarriage in a horrific moment at home while her husband and toddler waited helplessly in the other room. Initiative 434 means women who have pregnancies with lethal anomalies and pregnancies with no chance of survival will be forced to carry them to term or wait until their health is at risk before doctors can intervene. Initiative 434 will enshrine the abortion restrictions in the state constitution and make the current ban permanent. However,  Initiative 439 will end the current ban and allow families to have options and control over their own medical decisions.

“I felt like a walking coffin,” recalls Kimberly Paseka on her traumatic ordeal. “I do not want my pain to be in vain which is why I’m sharing my story. This ban hurts regular families, and I suffered unnecessarily because politicians controlled my healthcare decisions, not me. The physical pain was excruciating and the mental and emotional scars linger today. Our current abortion ban forces women and families into unthinkable scenarios so I’m voting against Initiative 434 and voting for Initiative 439. What happened to me could happen to anyone.”

The : 30-second ad will run across the state on broadcast and cable.

Members of the media are invited to join Protect Our Rights and other supporters of Initiative 439 at the Secretary of State Public Hearings in Lincoln taking place today, October 15, at 1:30 pm CDT. Details can be found here.

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