Abortion-Rights Protesters To Rally In Downtown Bradenton Wednesday

BRADENTON, FL — With the Supreme Court poised to overturn the landmark abortion ruling Roe v. Wade, according to a draft opinion leaked to Politico, a grassroots group dedicated to defending civil liberties and reproductive freedoms is planning an emergency rally in Manatee County.

Women’s Voices of SW Florida plans to host the rally and march Wednesday evening. The group is to leave from the Manatee County downtown library at 7:30 p.m. and march to the historic courthouse.

“Today we all received devastating news for not only our country but yet another smear was placed on the history and liberty of the people of America,” Women’s Voices said on its Facebook page Tuesday. “This is the first and only step needed for some states to completely ban abortion. Today is a dark day for bodily autonomy, though we all know better than to give up — the pain and anguish is real.”

The organization asked their followers to “stand up for bodily autonomy, make your voice heard, and help send the message that we will not take this sitting down this and bodily (autonomy) will not die in the dark.”

Women’s Voices formed last year when Commissioner James Satcher, a conservative minister, sought an abortion ban in Manatee County. He brought his anti-abortion initiatives inspired by Texas' so-called "Heartbeat Bill" before the county board in June 2021.

Patch has reached out to Satcher for comment, but he has not responded.

During the months that followed the proposal of his initiative, as commissioners discussed a potential abortion ban in the county, Women’s Voices regularly gathered outside board meetings and on other occasions.

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Commissioners sent a letter to Florida Attorney General Ashley Moody seeking legal advice. The general counsel for her office told Manatee County leaders and administrators that it isn’t allowed to move forward an ordinance banning abortions and abortion clinics within county limits.

"The county is not authorized to adopt an ordinance regulating (other than reasonable zoning ordinances) or banning such clinics because such an ordinance would be preempted by Florida law," Charles M. Trippe Jr. wrote in a letter to the board.

Trippe, in his response, also referenced a proposed statewide abortion ban proposed by the state Legislature that it "has not yet adopted, an amendment to that chapter that would expressly address the local government regulation of abortion."

He added that Manatee County commissioners "may wish to consider the effect of this proposed legislation on the issue you have raised and revisit the question after the legislature has considered the proposal."

If Roe v. Wade is overturned, Florida is likely to ban abortions, according to the Guttmacher Institute. In 2021, the state Legislature attempted — but failed — to move forward strict abortion regulations, including a 20-week and a six-week abortion ban.

Last month, Gov. Ron DeSantis signed the Reducing Fetal and Infant Mortality Act into law. The 15-week abortion ban, which takes effect July 1, doesn't grant exemptions for rape, incest or human trafficking.