Mathis at The National Press Club for Stateswomen for Justice

Program participants included April Ryan, White House Correspondent for American Urban Radio Networks, Economist Julianne Malveaux, civil rights advocate Barbara Arnwine.  It was organized by Hazel Trice Edney for Newswire.

Mathis Quoted on Woman's Constitutional Right to Choose on MSNBC

Below is a transcript excerpt from the March 30, 2016 Chris Matthews show.  NCNW is becoming a force to be reckoned with.  The quote was supplied by April Ryan, White House  Correspondent for National Urban Radio.  The question about Donald's Trump assertion that women who seek abortion should be punished was posed to Mathis following last week's Stateswomen of Justice at the National Press Club produced by Hazel Trice Edney's Newswire. 

RYAN: He wouldn`t like that, because again, like – just what I said. He 

has a mother, he has a sister. And this goes back to an old debate that 

we`ve had in this nation, Roe v. Wade. And Roe v. Wade is about basically 

the beginning stages, it`s a woman`s choice.

And then the latter stages, it`s a state. And that`s where the vast 

majority of American people are thinking. Roe v. Wade versus this 

antiquated thought. I talked to Janice Mathis, the head of the National 

Council of Negro Women who says that he demonstrates he does not understand 

the Constitution with this, and he`s out of step with current thinking.

MATTHEWS: I like the way you phrased that. I agree with that completely. 

Later stage, complete freedom, later stages, it`s more of a state interest 

and a public interest.

Commentary:  Of course, if all abortion is outlawed, women who break the law by having an illegal abortion would most likely face criminal sanctions.  In my view, we need more education, contraception and prenatal care, rather than conviction and punishment.  One in three women will have an abortion at some point.  Our religious beliefs are consistent with the State permitting women to make their own choices about reproduction.  Morality cannot be forced in the context of such a personal gut-wrenching decision.  Even Jesus stands at the door of our hearts and knocks.