At the Democratic National Convention (DNC) on Wednesday, California Democratic Rep. Maxine Waters avoided a question from Fox News Digital about whether she would support restricting late-term abortions, as the abortion issue remains a key policy issue for her party.
“Congresswoman, do you support restricting late-term abortion?” Fox News Digital asked Waters, who endorsed Vice President Kamala Harris on the first day of the Democratic National Convention. Waters can be seen in the video turning away and ignoring the question.
Planned Parenthood to offer free abortions, vasectomies at Democratic National Convention
Rep. Maxine Waters gestures at the United Center during the first day of the Democratic National Convention on Aug. 19, 2024 in Chicago. (Reuters/Mike Seeger)
Abortion has been a central issue in the 2024 reelection bid of Democrats spearheaded by Harris and Gov. Tim Walz, with speakers taking turns each night to push for expanded federal access to abortion. Late-term abortions, which are typically performed later in pregnancy, are an issue Democrats have often avoided.
A free mobile Planned Parenthood clinic parked just a few blocks from Chicago’s United Center, where the Democratic National Convention is being held, underscored the Democratic Party’s message of broad access to abortion.
The clinic offered free vasectomies and medication abortions, and the scene was completed by a taco truck and a 20-foot inflatable IUD. The van was available for the first two days of the convention and was reportedly fully booked as of Tuesday.
Pro-life groups hold outreach near Democratic National Convention to fight abortion trucks
Family Planning Association Mobile Clinic (Jamie Joseph/Fox News Digital)
Throughout her 17 terms in politics, Waters has supported federal funding for Planned Parenthood and opposed Republican-sponsored bills that sought to defund the organization or impose restrictions on abortion services.
Last year, Waters Voted against Republican Bill HR 26, The Live Abortion Survivors Protection Act requires health care providers to provide children born alive after an attempted abortion with the same level of care as given to other newborns of the same gestational age, and mandates immediate hospitalization in such cases.
When Roe v. Wade was overturned in 2022, returning abortion policy decision-making power to states, Waters, who has served in Congress since 1991, was among the Democrats who blasted the Supreme Court’s decision.
Conservatives say Chicago has a ‘bizarre’ situation at the Democratic National Convention with abortion trucks, inflatable intrauterine devices and free vasectomies
A Planned Parenthood mobile van offers free vasectomies and medication abortions, along with taco trucks and inflatable IUDs, near the Democratic National Convention in Chicago, Tuesday, Aug. 20, 2024. (Fox News Digital)
“Today is a sad and angry day for our country. The Supreme Court has overturned Roe v. Wade, which has been the law of the land for decades and gives women, non-binary and transgender people the fundamental human right to choose what to do with their bodies,” Waters said in a statement at the time.
Waters spoke to delegates on stage at the Democratic National Convention on Monday night, giving an enthusiastic endorsement of Harris, who will speak on the convention’s final day on Thursday.
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“Kamala Harris is our party’s nominee,” Waters said, “so I knew there was no better leader to lead us into the future.”
“And when the dust settles in November, and Americans of all stripes elect her as president… that will be the moment that all of us, from New York to Pennsylvania, Arizona to California, will be able to ask ourselves, ‘Is this America?’ and say loudly and proudly, ‘Yes, it is.'” she said.
