Justin Bullock, FISM News
Multiple TV networks have rejected a new advertisement created by the pro-life group The Susan B. Anthony List (SBAL). SBAL announced the new ad as well as a $2 million advertisement initiative on their website and Twitter in response to the pending case Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization that will be heard before the US Supreme Court this year.
We're launching an initial $2M campaign highlighting the humanity of unborn children as the Supreme Court prepares to review a landmark abortion case
Watch the ad: pic.twitter.com/3xNV0Mm4sm
— Susan B. Anthony List #HydeSavesLives (@SBAList) May 26, 2021
The ad contains no graphic imagery or language about abortion, and simply makes the claim that current abortion law is not up to date with respect to the most recent science. Pro-life organizations and advocates are confused and upset by the decision of many major networks not to run the commercial. The networks in question have been accused of censorship as well as taking a political stance about abortion.
For their part, CBS, CMT, and Hallmark each contacted SBAL giving their reasons for their rejections of the ad.
CBS said,
Issue-oriented advertisements that are designed for the purpose of presenting views or influencing legislation on issues that are controversial by general public consensus are unacceptable…
CMT said,
While we do accept political and issue-based ads on a case-by-case basis, issue-oriented ads that are designed for the purpose of presenting views or influencing legislation on issues that are controversial by general public consensus are unacceptable…
Hallmark told SBAL,
they could not accept the ad because it does not meet the Hallmark channel’s criteria for the positive experience Hallmark aims to offer viewers.
Tension is rising across the country as pro-choice advocates and organizations are terrified that Roe v. Wade will be overturned by the Supreme Court, while pro-life advocates and organizations are beginning to hold a realistic hope, for the the first time in 40 years, that abortion will be banned in the US. SBAL’s commercial was published on the group’s YouTube channel and can be viewed here.