ATLANTA — In yet another twist in the tug-of-war between production companies and anti-abortion activists over Georgia's "heartbeat" abortion law, a Georgia pro-life group is calling for a Netflix boycott after the company took a stance in the debate.
Last month, the online streaming company issued a statement saying it would "rethink our entire investment" in the state and would work with the ACLU to fight the law in court if it were to take effect. Since then, Disney's CEO, "Walking Dead" producers AMC and other productions have publicly denounced the restrictive abortion law and said that if it is upheld, it would force them to reconsider doing business in Georgia.
Now, pro-life group Georgia Right to Life has joined the debate, demanding Netflix "keep it's pro-abortion Hollywood politics out of Georgia." The group has joined in a campaign asking people to cancel their Netflix subscriptions and encourage their families to do the same.
"We hope this campaign will send the same message to other film industry companies that have made similar threats," the group's executive director said in a statement. "We understand that Georgia reaps jobs and income from this relationship, but shame on anyone who would trade a single innocent child's life for all the money in the world."
The new law, signed by Gov. Brian Kemp May 7, bans abortions once a fetal heartbeat can be detected. That can be as early as six weeks - often before a woman even knows she is pregnant. It would make exceptions for rape and incest, pending a police report being filed, but could potentially criminalize miscarriages.
The heartbeat law is set to go in effect Jan. 1, 2020, though it is expected to be challenged in the court system.
MORE HEADLINES