THE ROOT OP-ED: Black Women Bear the Brunt of Criminalized Pregnancy and Motherhood. Here’s Why We Can’t Afford to Ignore It.
Erika Maye, Color Of Change’s Criminal Justice & Democracy Campaigns Sr Director, writes about how no one should have the threat of incarceration looming over them for pregnancy outcomes. Yet all too often, that is the reality for Black women. Last year, Maya Caston was incarcerated after she gave birth to stillborn twins. Instead of receiving the support and care she desperately needed — and deserved — she was arrested and indicted by the St. Louis County prosecutor. Her story is not unique, and it’s only likely to get worse under the rash of reproductive health bans being passed now. Women can be charged with murder for miscarriage or stillbirth, having untreated mental health disorders, or coping with abuse in unhealthy ways. Low-income Black women in the South are most likely to be targeted.
Full article at https://bit.ly/3Gh7l7U