美国国家公共电台 NPR--Missourians are working to defeat an abortion amendment in Kansas

Missourians are working to defeat an abortion¹ amendment² in Kansas

Transcript³

Abortion is protected in Kansas, but a change to the state's constitution is on next month's ballot⁴. In neighboring Missouri, abortion-rights activists⁵ are doing what they can to defeat the amendment.

ASMA KHALID, HOST:

Voters in Kansas will be the first in the country to directly decide abortion rights following the Supreme⁶ Court overturning Roe⁷ v. Wade⁸. Right now, abortion is protected in the state, but a change to the state's constitution is on the ballot next week. Just across the state line, in Missouri, abortion rights advocates are working to defeat the amendment. From member station KCUR, Celisa Calacal reports.

CELISA CALACAL, BYLINE⁹: In 2019, the Kansas Supreme Court ruled that the state constitution protects the right to an abortion. Come August 2, Kansans will vote on an amendment asking if they want the Constitution to preserve that right. It's called the quote, "Value Them Both" amendment, and it will give Kansas voters the ability to directly weigh in on abortion rights. The stakes are high in the lead-up to next week's vote, especially as more Midwest states ban abortion. Many of those awaiting the results live in neighboring Missouri.

CHELSEA ANGLEMYER: I'm just afraid of what Kansans are going to do, based on what Missouri has already, like, led the path for.

CALACAL: That's Chelsea Anglemyer, one of about 50 people who gathered at a Kansas City park on a Saturday afternoon to protest restrictions¹⁰ on abortion access. Anglemayer lives on the Missouri side of Kansas City, in a state that immediately banned nearly all abortions¹¹ after the Supreme Court's ruling. But if the amendment fails, it could lock in the right to an abortion in the state. If it passes, it would give the Republican-dominated Kansas legislature the ability to eventually ban abortion. If that happens, Missourians will lose access to what has long been considered an abortion refuge. The stakes are so high that Missouri residents are finding ways to get involved in the campaign to defeat the amendment short of actually casting a ballot. Some are canvassing¹² in Kansas. Others are phone-banking and donating money. Anglemyer has been vocal¹³ on social media. Kansas City resident Spencer Thut has engaged voters about the Kansas abortion amendment. Thut lives near the border separating Kansas and Missouri.

SPENCER THUT: It's kind of an imaginary border to me. The fact is is that, like, we all need access to health care.

CALACAL: Since the overturning of Roe, the Kansas groups opposing the amendment have seen millions of dollars in donations flow in from out of state. But Kansans for Life, the main group supporting the amendment, isn't fazed. Spokeswoman Danielle Underwood says Kansans for Life still has more in-state support.

DANIELLE UNDERWOOD: It's clear that out-of-state, radical¹⁴, pro-abortion activists and politicians in Washington, D.C., are trying to meddle¹⁵ in Kansas politics and policies.

CALACAL: Emily Wales heads the Planned Parenthood Great Plains, which operates clinics in Missouri, Kansas, Arkansas and Oklahoma. Of those four states, Kansas is the only one where abortions remain legal.

EMILY WALES: As rights are stripped from people around the country, Kansas just has an incredible opportunity to say, not here.

CALACAL: Missouri residents already had difficulty getting an abortion even before Roe was overturned, and thousands have traveled to Kansas for an abortion. If the Kansas amendment passes and lawmakers ban the procedure, the nearest places for Missourians to get a legal abortion will be in eastern Illinois, Iowa and Colorado. Again, a yes vote on the Kansas amendment would allow Kansas lawmakers to pass laws restricting abortion or completely banning it. A no vote would uphold the current status quo, in which the state constitution protects the right to an abortion. For NPR News, I'm Celisa Calacal in Kansas City.

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1 abortion   

n.流产，堕胎

参考例句：

• She had an abortion at the women's health clinic.她在妇女保健医院做了流产手术。
• A number of considerations have led her to have a wilful abortion.多种考虑使她执意堕胎。

2 amendment   

n.改正，修正，改善，修正案

参考例句：

• The amendment was rejected by 207 voters to 143.这项修正案以207票对143票被否决。
• The Opposition has tabled an amendment to the bill.反对党已经就该议案提交了一项修正条款。

3 transcript   

n.抄本，誊本，副本，肄业证书

参考例句：

• A transcript of the tapes was presented as evidence in court.一份录音带的文字本作为证据被呈交法庭。
• They wouldn't let me have a transcript of the interview.他们拒绝给我一份采访的文字整理稿。

4 ballot   

n.（不记名）投票，投票总数，投票权；vi.投票

参考例句：

• The members have demanded a ballot.会员们要求投票表决。
• The union said they will ballot members on whether to strike.工会称他们将要求会员投票表决是否罢工。

5 activists   

n.（政治活动的）积极分子，活动家( activist的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• His research work was attacked by animal rights activists . 他的研究受到了动物权益维护者的抨击。
• Party activists with lower middle class pedigrees are numerous. 党的激进分子中有很多出身于中产阶级下层。 来自《简明英汉词典》

6 supreme   

adj.极度的，最重要的；至高的，最高的

参考例句：

• It was the supreme moment in his life.那是他一生中最重要的时刻。
• He handed up the indictment to the supreme court.他把起诉书送交最高法院。

7 roe   

n.鱼卵；獐鹿

参考例句：

• We will serve smoked cod's roe at the dinner.宴会上我们将上一道熏鳕鱼子。
• I'll scramble some eggs with roe?我用鱼籽炒几个鸡蛋好吗？

8 wade   

v.跋涉，涉水；n.跋涉

参考例句：

• We had to wade through the river to the opposite bank.我们只好涉水过河到对岸。
• We cannot but wade across the river.我们只好趟水过去。

9 byline   

n.署名；v.署名

参考例句：

• His byline was absent as well.他的署名也不见了。
• We wish to thank the author of this article which carries no byline.我们要感谢这篇文章的那位没有署名的作者。

10 restrictions   

约束( restriction的名词复数 )； 管制； 制约因素； 带限制性的条件（或规则）

参考例句：

• I found the restrictions irksome. 我对那些限制感到很烦。
• a snaggle of restrictions 杂乱无章的种种限制

11 abortions   

n.小产( abortion的名词复数 )；小产胎儿；（计划）等中止或夭折；败育

参考例句：

• The Venerable Master: By not having abortions, by not killing living beings. 上人：不堕胎、不杀生。 来自互联网
• Conclusion Chromosome abnormality is one of the causes of spontaneous abortions. 结论：染色体异常是导致反复自然流产的原因之一。 来自互联网

12 canvassing   

v.（在政治方面）游说( canvass的现在分词 )；调查（如选举前选民的）意见；为讨论而提出（意见等）；详细检查

参考例句：

• He spent the whole month canvassing for votes. 他花了整整一个月四处游说拉选票。
• I'm canvassing for the Conservative Party. 我在为保守党拉选票。 来自辞典例句

13 vocal   

adj.直言不讳的；嗓音的；n.[pl.]声乐节目

参考例句：

• The tongue is a vocal organ.舌头是一个发音器官。
• Public opinion at last became vocal.终于舆论哗然。

14 radical   

n.激进份子，原子团，根号；adj.根本的，激进的，彻底的

参考例句：

• The patient got a radical cure in the hospital.病人在医院得到了根治。
• She is radical in her demands.她的要求十分偏激。

15 meddle   

v.干预，干涉，插手

参考例句：

• I hope he doesn't try to meddle in my affairs.我希望他不来干预我的事情。
• Do not meddle in things that do not concern you.别参与和自己无关的事。