Actress and progressive activist Alyssa Milano has been all over the news this week, largely thanks to her efforts to thwart a Georgia bill that would ban abortions after a fetal heartbeat is detected. After getting dozens of her Hollywood colleagues to join her in threatening Georgia with a film industry boycott if the abortion bill goes through, Milano appeared in the Georgia statehouse on Tuesday to protest in person.
One particular moment from Milano's legislative protest that was caught on video by a statehouse reporter has gotten some attention online: Republican State Rep. Dominic LaRiccia asked Milano a question about residency that prompted a rather tense exchange, ending with the actress declaring that LaRiccia was one of the people "trying to vote on what is going on inside my uterus."
Milano's protest targets the state's "LIFE (Living Infants Fairness and Equality) Act" (H.B. 481), which states: "It shall be the policy of the State of Georgia to recognize the presence of a fetal heartbeat as the point of 'fetal viability,' creating a compelling state interest to protect 'the independent essence of the second life' as an 'object of state protection' from abortion," and to "recognize unborn children as natural persons." The bill would also not allow an abortion to be performed unless a physician has tested for a heartbeat. Abortion after a fetal heartbeat is detected is barred except if a the pregnancy is medically futile, the mother is at serious physical risk, or in cases of rape or incest.
In response, Milano penned a letter Thursday along with dozens of her fellow actors attempting to pressure Georgia lawmakers to kill the "dangerous and deeply-flawed" bill or else face a film industry boycott. The letter, addressed to Georgia House Speaker David Ralston and Georgia Governor Brian Kemp, declares that "we cannot in good conscience continue to recommend our industry remain in Georgia if H.B. 481 becomes law."
On Tuesday, Milano led about 30 fellow protesters to the statehouse to make sure her voice was heard. It was while she was there that LaRiccia turned to the actress and asked, "What district of Georgia do you vote in?"
"I work in Georgia," Milano replied.
"Do you vote in Georgia?" LaRiccia asked.
"I don't vote in Georgia, but there is 30 people outside that do vote in Georgia that I was going to escort in," she replied.
"But you don't vote in Georgia?" he asked again.
"Excuse me. Don't interrupt me," the actress fired back, completing her thought: "That I was going to escort in, that they wouldn't let me escort in."
"So that's a no, you don't vote in Georgia?" LaRiccia replied.
"No, but the people that work on my crews, the 90,000 people that the entertainment industry actually employs do," she said.
After asking for his name, Milano eventually turned to the crowd that was watching the whole exchange and said, "These are the men that are voting on what is going on inside my uterus. This guy right here. This guy."
Statehouse reporter Maya Prabhu posted a video of the exchange online, along with the full transcript:
After the video started making the rounds, Milano tweeted out some comments:
"Couple of thing about @DominicLariccia and this interaction—he’s announced a bill to silence the press. Also, I tried to deliver this letter with 30 Georgia voters and they wouldn’t let the residents in the office. Reminder: It doesn’t matter if I did vote in Georgia," she wrote in a pair of tweets Wednesday (formatting adjusted). "Because in Georgia during 2018 midterms: 50,000+ voter registration applications were held up; 4,000+ absente ballot request forms were lost in DeKalb County (a majority Black county); 500,000+ voters were purged from the voter roles."
1. Couple of thing about @DominicLariccia and this interaction—he’s announced a bill to silence the press. Also, I tried to deliver this letter with 30 Georgia voters and they wouldn’t let the residents in the office. Reminder: It doesn’t matter if I did vote in Georgia.(Read on)
2. Because in Georgia during 2018 midterms:
50,000+ voter registration applications were held up
4,000+ absente ballot request forms were lost in DeKalb County (a majority Black county)
500,000+ voters were purged from the voter roles
Milano's reference to the 2018 midterms falls in line with the complaints of failed Democratic gubernatorial candidate Stacey Abrams, who still hasn't conceded the election to the Republican winner.
Milano also turned heads this week with her lengthy defense of "Creepy Joe" Biden, which proved unpopular with her fellow feminist "allies." She has since kept up the defense of Biden online.
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