By: Trimmel Gomes
Gov. Ron DeSantis signed a 15-week
abortion ban into law, a major blow to overall abortion access
in Southern states where Florida has been a beacon.
The governor's action comes just days after a Florida judge tossed out a
challenge to another law calling for a 24-hour
waiting period for an abortion after consulting with a doctor.
Amy Weintraub, reproductive rights program director for Progress Florida, said
although the governor's signature was expected, it was a shock to the system
for those entrenched in the reproductive-rights movement.
"We are feeling especially -- what's the word -- 'embattled'
currently," Weintraub remarked. "And of course, we are also bracing
ourselves with what the United States Supreme Court is going to decide."
DeSantis said the law
will defend those who cannot defend themselves.
Republicans across the nation have added new abortion restrictions since the
U.S. Supreme Court signaled it would uphold Mississippi's
law banning abortions after 15 weeks. The court could weaken or
overturn the 1973 Roe
v. Wade decision guaranteeing a pregnant person's right to
choose an abortion.
Weintraub noted she is heartened by the number of companies including, Apple,
Citi and Yelp stepping up to show abortion care is a workplace issue. They are
providing travel support to people who are stuck in states with restrictions
beyond Florida's 15-week ban, like
Texas.
"Many of the problems that pregnant people experience with their
pregnancies cannot be anticipated before this restriction is looming over their
heads," Weintraub explained. "These employers recognize that, and
they are promising their employees that they will be able to get the health
care they need, and I think that's freaking fantastic."
Florida's new law, which goes into effect July 1, does not allow for exemptions
for pregnancies from rape, incest or human trafficking. It does exempt if the
abortion is necessary to save a mother's life, prevent serious injury or if the
fetus has a fatal abnormality.
Content for this Post is provided by Florida News
Connection, a Bureau of Public News Service.
Public News Service is a member of the The Trust Project.
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