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‘Protect life’: U. Nebraska athletes ask voters to reject pro-choice ballot measure

UNL student athletes urge Nebraskans to vote for pro-life Measure 434 and against pro-choice Initiative 439 to ‘protect women and children’ 

Six female athletes at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln are urging residents to vote on two abortion measures on the state’s ballot in a new ad campaign.

Pro-life initiative Protect Women and Children released the ads Monday featuring UNL volleyball player Rebekah Allick and softball players Malia Thomas, Hannah and Lauren Camenzind, Jordyn Bahl, and Abbie Squier, Catholic Vote reported.

The athletes encourage voters to support “pro-life” Measure 434 and oppose “pro-choice” Measure 439.

The players say that “extreme activists” are “lying about Nebraska’s laws” and “women’s healthcare.”

“With out-of-state activists lying about the radical Initiative 439, my teammates and I knew it was time to get off the bench and tell the truth about how 439 would harm Nebraska women and children,” Bahl says in one ad.

“[Initiative 439] forces taxpayer funding of abortion, places women’s care in the hands of non-physicians, and puts Nebraska women at risk,” Allick says.

Allick also says 439 “outlaws parental notification for minors” while Abbie Squier says it “makes women vulnerable to pressure and coercion.”

Initiative 434 “defends women from abuse, trafficking, and coercion. Nebraskans should vote for 434 and no on 439,” Allick says.

Initiative 434 would “amend the Nebraska Constitution” to protect unborn children “from abortion in the second and third trimesters.”

On the other hand, Initiative 439 would “amend the Nebraska Constitution” to establish a “fundamental right to abortion without interference from the state or its political subdivisions until fetal viability.”

Nebraska law currently prohibits abortions after 12 weeks of pregnancy, with exceptions for cases involving rape, incest, or medical emergencies.

UNL Board of Regent members running for re-election funded the ads in part, according to KETV NewsWatch.

The University of Nebraska told KETV that the school “is not affiliated with the campaign activities of the candidates running for election to the Board of Regents.”

“The students at the University of Nebraska are private citizens and are able to exercise their First Amendment rights. The opinions expressed by students are their own and are not those of the University of Nebraska or Husker athletics,” the school stated.

In a post on X Wednesday, Bahl stated that the athletes were not paid to be in the ads.

“Imagine people seeing a commercial done with 6 young women supporting a pro life movement, and immediately jumping to the conclusion that we were paid to take part. Nope!” the UNL softball player stated.

“None of us received a penny! We just aren’t afraid to take a stand and protect life!” Bahl stated.

MORE: House report says abortion bans hinder medical training, OB-GYNs push back

IMAGE: Protect Women and Children/Youtube

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About the Author
Gabrielle Temaat is an assistant editor at The College Fix. She holds a B.S. in economics from Barrett, the Honors College, at Arizona State University. She has years of editorial experience at the Daily Caller and various family policy councils. She also works as a tutor in all subjects and is deeply passionate about mentoring students.