Sending kids to lobby against abortion: 'Cheap exploitation'?
To garner support for Ohio's controversial "heartbeat bill," anti-abortion activists use teddy-bear-clutching children as lobbyists

Anti-abortion advocates in Ohio have recruited some unorthodox lobbyists: Kids and teddy bears. In an effort to pass the "heartbeat bill" — a restrictive state measure that bans abortion after a fetal heartbeat is detected, which can be as early as six weeks — activists sent young children clutching teddy bears into the offices of state senators this month. The bears played audio of a fetal heartbeat while the kids, reported to be around 9 or 10 years old, read a prewritten spiel asking lawmakers to support the bill, which already passed the state House last year. One of the state senators called the tactic "cheap exploitation." Is it — or is this just a provocative way of getting support for a controversial piece of legislation?
This is just plain wrong: It's "shameless" to use children as props, says Marie Diamond at ThinkProgress. Of course, it's not the first time that anti-abortion activists pushing the heartbeat bill have stooped to such "tawdry tactics." It was just last year that they had the sonogram of a 9-week-old fetus "testify" before the state House Health Committee — and the bill subsequently passed the state House.
"Backers of radical anti-abortion bill shamelessly use kids carrying teddy bears to lobby lawmakers"
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
And it's not winning converts in the state Senate: "I'm not at all supportive of the bill, and I'm not supportive of them sending kids in my office with a teddy bear that mimics a heartbeat, either," state Sen. Shirley Smith (D) tells The Huffington Post. Next time an adult wants to discuss an issue, he ought to come to my office himself. This is "very cheap exploitation of kids," and a big turnoff. "I didn't even want the teddy bear."
"Anti-abortion group sends children with teddy bears to lobby lawmakers"
But similar tactics have worked in the past: Anti-abortion activists have effectively cornered Ohio lawmakers with kids before, says Robin Marty at Care 2. Recently, a television commercial ran in Ohio that showed a busload of kids, with an accompanying voiceover saying that if the heartbeat bill were passed, a bus worth of children would be saved every day. Many credit that spot with firing up Ohio voters to call on their state senators to take action and bring the bill up for a vote in the first place.
"Anti-choice use little kids and teddy bears to rally for heartbeat ban"
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
-
How the woke right gained power in the US
Under the radar The term has grown in prominence since Donald Trump returned to the White House
By Chas Newkey-Burden, The Week UK
-
Codeword: April 24, 2025
The Week's daily codeword puzzle
By The Week Staff
-
Crossword: April 24, 2025
The Week's daily crossword
By The Week Staff
-
The JFK files: the truth at last?
In The Spotlight More than 64,000 previously classified documents relating the 1963 assassination of John F. Kennedy have been released by the Trump administration
By The Week Staff
-
'Seriously, not literally': how should the world take Donald Trump?
Today's big question White House rhetoric and reality look likely to become increasingly blurred
By Sorcha Bradley, The Week UK
-
Will Trump's 'madman' strategy pay off?
Today's Big Question Incoming US president likes to seem unpredictable but, this time round, world leaders could be wise to his playbook
By Sorcha Bradley, The Week UK
-
Democrats vs. Republicans: who are the billionaires backing?
The Explainer Younger tech titans join 'boys' club throwing money and support' behind President Trump, while older plutocrats quietly rebuke new administration
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK
-
US election: where things stand with one week to go
The Explainer Harris' lead in the polls has been narrowing in Trump's favour, but her campaign remains 'cautiously optimistic'
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK
-
Is Trump okay?
Today's Big Question Former president's mental fitness and alleged cognitive decline firmly back in the spotlight after 'bizarre' town hall event
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK
-
The life and times of Kamala Harris
The Explainer The vice-president is narrowly leading the race to become the next US president. How did she get to where she is now?
By The Week UK
-
Will 'weirdly civil' VP debate move dial in US election?
Today's Big Question 'Diametrically opposed' candidates showed 'a lot of commonality' on some issues, but offered competing visions for America's future and democracy
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK