Criminalizing Abortion? A Growing Split in the Anti-Abortion Movement

The abortion debate in the United States is taking a new and controversial turn. Since the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade in 2022, ending the federal right to abortion, anti-abortion activists have gained ground—but not without internal conflict. A radical new faction within the movement is now calling for women who undergo abortions to face criminal charges, including homicide.

This faction, known as abortion abolitionists, believes abortion is equivalent to murder and should be punished accordingly. Their stance is causing serious tension with more mainstream anti-abortion groups, who have long avoided targeting women and instead focused on abortion providers and organizations like Planned Parenthood.

Kristan Hawkins, president of the national group Students for Life, is among those caught in the middle. Known for her campus tours and outspoken opposition to abortion, Hawkins says she’s now being protested by fellow anti-abortion activists. In a recent interview with The Associated Press, she revealed that some abortion abolitionists show up at her events calling her a “baby killer” and demanding her resignation—despite her long-time leadership in the movement.

The divide became more visible in recent months as bills inspired by abolitionist rhetoric were introduced in at least a dozen states, including Texas, Georgia, and Alabama. These proposed laws would allow prosecutors to charge women who have abortions with murder. In some extreme cases, they could even face the death penalty.

Though most of these bills are unlikely to pass, their presence is significant. It reflects the growing influence of a once-fringe group that feels empowered by recent political wins, especially under former President Donald Trump. Trump’s administration has signaled strong support for anti-abortion measures, including using language that treats fetuses as full legal persons. Still, Trump has also tried to appeal to moderate voters, recently pledging to protect IVF treatments that are threatened by some of these extreme laws.

Despite the rising pressure, national pro-life organizations are urging caution. In 2022, over 70 groups signed a letter opposing any laws that criminalize women seeking abortions. Even in conservative states like North Dakota and Oklahoma, lawmakers have faced backlash from within their own movement for supporting these harsh measures.

Experts and legal scholars warn that this shift toward criminalization could hurt the broader anti-abortion cause. A 2022 KFF poll showed that nearly 80% of Americans oppose laws that would fine or imprison women for getting an abortion.

So where does the movement go from here? According to Hawkins, there are now three camps: one that wants to punish women, one that refuses to, and one that’s undecided but open to it in the future as laws and culture evolve. She places herself in the third group but warns that extremist messaging could cost conservatives at the polls.

“If you want pro-abortion Democrats to win more elections,” she told the AP, “then keep talking about putting women in jail.”

As the 2024 election cycle heats up, this internal battle could define the future of abortion laws in America—making this a story to watch closely.