WATCH: Sexual Assault Survivor Shares Why She is Supporting Josh Stein for Governor

“This is important because this directly affects the lives of North Carolinians.”

Today, Josh Stein for North Carolina released a new video featuring a North Carolina woman who shares her heartbreaking experience with sexual assault, how she was able to exercise her right to choose after her assault, and why that experience leads her to support Josh Stein in the race for governor. 

In the video, Kimberly McLaughlin-Smith of Carolina Beach recounts a story of sexual assault that happened 40 years ago. She details the trauma she experienced and describes coming to the realization that her assault resulted in pregnancy. Kimberly shares that at that time, she was able to make her own decisions about her reproductive healthcare, and chose to have an abortion. 

Responding to one of Mark Robinson’s most egregious claims that abortion only happens because women “weren’t responsible enough to keep [their] skirt down,” Kimberly explains that she “did not have the responsibility to keep [her] skirt down,” because her “attacker disabled [her] ability to respond,” and “that tool was taken from [her] that night.” 

“We thank Kimberly for bravely coming forward to share this important and personal story,” said Morgan Hopkins, a spokeswoman for Josh Stein for North Carolina. “North Carolinians like Kimberly know that the future of reproductive freedom is on the ballot in North Carolina, and they have a right to know how the people they are voting for will handle these difficult and personal issues. Josh Stein has been a proven champion for victims of sexual assault and reproductive freedom, and the people of the state know they can put their trust in Josh to stand up for them and their rights as governor.”

Watch “Kimberly” here: