The Democratic National Convention in Chicago took a powerful turn when Hadley Duvall, a Kentucky woman who became pregnant at 12 after being raped by her stepfather, delivered a scathing rebuke of Donald Trump's position on abortion rights. Duvall's emotional testimony underscored the complex and deeply personal nature of the abortion debate in the US, thrusting the issue back into the spotlight as the 2024 presidential race intensifies.
"I can't imagine not having a choice. But today, that's the reality for many women and girls across the country because of Donald Trump's abortion bans. He calls it a beautiful thing. What is so beautiful about a child having to carry her parent's child?" Duvall challenged.
In her impassioned speech, Duvall spoke directly to women across the US who desire but are unable to access abortion services. "There are more survivors out there who have no options. I want to tell you - we see you, we hear you."
Concluding her remarks, Duvall voiced her support for the Democratic presidential candidate Kamala Harris, stating, "Kamala Harris will sign legislation that will safeguard abortion rights."
Duvall's speech pointedly addressed the Republican candidate's position on the contentious issue. In 2022, the US Supreme Court overturned the constitutional right to abortion up to 24 weeks of pregnancy. Trump maintains that "the federal government should have nothing to do with this issue. It's being solved at the state level," he has, however, clarified his support for abortion in cases of rape, incest, and risk to the mother's life – exceptions not universally accepted among his supporters.
