A challenge by an Asian American feminist group and the NAACP to Arizona’s ban on race and sex selection abortions has been thrown out of court, reports the Phoenix New Times.
The National Asian Pacific American Women’s Forum and the Maricopa County chapter of the NAACP argued the law was discriminatory because it targeted Asian Americans and African Americans based on assumptions grounded in stereotypes.
The Federal Appeals court in San Francisco rejected those argument saying the groups failed to show how they would actually be harmed by the law.
Attorneys from the ACLU which represented the two groups say the law singled out Asians and African Americans.
“On its face it doesn’t look discriminatory,” ACLU Arizona attorney Dan Pachoda said, “but when you look at the debates the Legislature had [while discussing it in 2011], it’s clear that it’s ugly…and based on racist and discriminatory [premises].”
This is the second time the groups challenge of the law has been thrown out. It’s not known at this time whether they will try a third time.
You can read reaction to the ruling in the Phoenix New Times.
