The abortion law in Georgia fuels the call for a boycott of Hollywood



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Actress Alyssa Milano

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Legend

Alyssa Milano was one of many actors who pledged not to film in Georgia if the law was adopted

A new law on abortion in the state of Georgia, in the United States, has sparked calls for a boycott in Hollywood by both actors and production companies.

A number of actors signed an open letter in March in which they pledged not to work there if the law was passed.

Governor Brian Kemp on Tuesday signed the so-called "Heartbeat" bill, which bans most abortions as early as the sixth week of pregnancy.

It is the last state to adopt legislation restricting abortion.

The law will come into effect on January 1, but is expected to face challenges in court.

A federal judge blocked such a law in Kentucky, which was to come into effect immediately as it could be unconstitutional, while Mississippi passed a six-week abortion law in March that is not expected to come into effect before July and who also faces challenges.

Ohio passed a similar restrictive law in 2016 to which the governor vetoed it.

Many women do not know that they are pregnant after six weeks. Morning sickness usually starts after about nine weeks.

  • What's behind the anti-abortion "heartbeat bill" in Georgia?
  • How did the American debate on abortion get to this point

The Georgia governor's office said that film and television productions had returned $ 2.7 billion (2.1 billion pounds) to the state in 2018.

The Hollywood series Black Panther and The Hunger Games were filmed there, as were the Stranger Things and The Walking Dead programs.

What is the boycott?

At the time of passing the bill, 50 actors have proposed boycotting film and television production in the state, including with Alyssa Milano, Amy Schumer, Christina Applegate, Alec Baldwin and Sean Penn.

"We want to stay in Georgia," reads the letter. "But we will not do it silently, and we will do everything in our power to bring our industry to a safer state for women if [this] becomes law. "

Ms. Milano, who is the star of Netflix's Insatiable broadcast, told Buzzfeed News that she "would fight body and soul to move from an insatiable to a state that will protect our rights" after Governor Kemp approved the legislation.

Although she must turn in the state for at least another month by contract, she said she would not come back for a potential third season if she was still filmed there.

Other actors also expressed their support, as did the leaders of several independent production companies.

Christine Vachon said that her production company Killer Films – behind the famous applause still Alice and Carol – would not consider working in Georgia "until this ridiculous law is revoked".

It was accompanied, among others, by Duplass Brothers Productions and David Simon, author of the television series The Wire.

The Writers Guild of America strongly criticized the bill before it was passed.

"This law would make Georgia an inhospitable place for people working in the film and television industry, including our members," the statement said.

Directors JJ Abrams and Jordan Peele announced that they would continue to set up their Lovecraft Country program in the state, but they pledged to donate "100% of our respective episodic taxes" to opposing groups.

Governor Kemp's "Abortion Law" on fetal heart rate is an unconstitutional effort to further prevent women and their health providers from making private medical decisions on their terms, "said their statement.

"Make no mistake, it is an attack aimed outright and deliberately on women."

  • Women seeking abortions outside the law
  • What US decision can mean for Roe v Wade

However, some industry players have not engaged in the boycott and are waiting to see the potential legal consequences.

Chris Ortman, a spokesman for the Motion Picture Association, issued a statement saying the group was considering "following the evolution of the situation."

"Film and television production in Georgia generates more than 92,000 jobs and brings significant economic benefits to communities and families," he said.

"It is important to remember that similar laws have been tried in other states and have either been ordered by the courts or are being challenged.The outcome in Georgia will also be determined by the process. judicial."

Other people in Georgia even recommend supporting efforts to challenge the new law rather than boycotting the state.

"What about working-class people who are going to be affected in rural communities all over the state?" What is a boycott of the industry the film will do for them? " The activist and poet Aurielle Marie wrote on a Twitter feed, calling actors to pay rather to support local organizations.

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