With Signing Of 6-Week Abortion Ban, Protesters Plan Weekend Rallies

FLORIDA — Passage of the six-week abortion ban by the Florida Legislature this week has produced a hailstorm of protests around the state by pro-abortion groups, which are planning additional demonstrations and other events this weekend.

During a peaceful protest at Tallahassee City Hall Monday as the Florida Senate was voting to pass the six-week abortion ban, Democratic Party Chairwoman Nikki Fried and Senate Minority Leader Lauren Book were summarily hauled off in handcuffs by Tallahassee police.

Fried and Book weren't alone in their jail cells. Nine other demonstrators representing Women's Voices of Southwest Florida, Florida National Organization for Women and Bans off Miami were arrested as well as the crowd shouted "shame" at police officers.

In a news release, the Tallahassee Police Department said that protesters were warned that they had to leave after sunset and were arrested because they refused to comply.

Book and Fried were charged with trespassing on property after a warning. Fried was released after posting a $500 bond. Book was released without bond. Fried is set to be arraigned on May 18 and Book will face the judge on April 27.

"This dangerous ban turns back the clock on women’s rights and essential freedoms — bringing the government into exam rooms and criminalizing women and their doctors over private healthcare decisions," said Book after her arrest. "Every single day in our state right now, you're seeing atrocious things happening in Tallahassee out of the capital, taking away our freedoms, taking away a woman's right to choose, making it less safe in our streets," said Book, referring to the governor signing the bill into law this week allowing Floridians to carry concealed weapons without a permit. "It is getting worse and worse for the people of our state. And so we're going to continue to fight."

"You know, there are certain things that are just worth fighting for. And this isn't about the two of us. It's not even about the women who were arrested tonight. It was about protecting women across the state," said Fried after her arrest. "I want the women and girls of Florida to know that the Florida Democrats are doing everything we can to fight for your rights — now and at the ballot box. We will win."

Fried was the only Democratic member of the Florida Cabinet until the election in November when Republicans ousted her from office in favor of former Senate leader Wilton Simpson, R-Trilby.

Related:

• Gov. DeSantis Signs Florida's 6-Week Abortion Ban Into Law
• Dem Leaders Arrested As FL Senate Passes 6-Week Abortion Ban

On Thursday, surrounded by a crowd of supporters but excluding the press, Gov. Ron DeSantis signed the bill into law banning abortions after six weeks of pregnancy.

Senate Bill 300, the Heartbeat Protection Act prohibits abortions once the unborn child has a detectable heartbeat, generally thought by medical professionals to occur around six weeks.

It was passed by the Senate on April 3 by a 26 to 13 vote and by the House on Thursday by a 70 to 40 vote.

The law includes an appropriation of $25 million from the state's General Revenue Fund for the Florida Department of Health. At least 85 percent of these funds will go to setting up centers to provide pregnancy and parenting support to those women who will no longer qualify for abortions, centers the Florida Planned Parenthood Action has dubbed "non-medical anti-abortion fake clinics."

"Gov. DeSantis knows how unpopular this ban is," said Florida Planned Parenthood Action in a statement. "That is why he signed it so soon (after the House approved the bill) and without a big press conference. This is the political version of tearing off the band-aid quickly."

Under the new law, physicians are prohibited from "knowingly performing or inducing a termination of pregnancy after the gestational age of the fetus is determined to be more than 6 weeks unless the woman is a victim of a rape, incest or human trafficking or if a woman has a medical condition that makes an abortion necessary to save her life.

To provide an abortion to a woman less than six weeks pregnant, two physicians will have to certify in writing that, in their medical judgement, the termination of the pregnancy is necessary to save the pregnant woman's life or avert a serious risk of an irreversible physical impairment

Written statements by two physicians will also be required if the fetus has a fatal abnormality.

And finally, physicians must report to the state abortions of all pregnancies beyond six weeks due to rape, incest or human trafficking and can only perform the abortions if the pregnant woman provides a copy of a restraining order, police report, medical record or other court order or documentation proving she's the victim of rape, incest or human trafficking.

Violators of the new law, which goes into effect 30 days after its signing, will be charged with a second-degree felony. Additionally, physicians who don't comply could be subject to disciplinary action including the revocation of their licenses to practice medicine.

The state will conduct regular inspections of clinics that perform abortions to ensure that they're in compliance with the new law.

The new abortion law is nearly identical to the law passed by the Legislature during the 2022 session prohibiting abortions after 15 weeks of pregnancy.

In fact, the Senate sponsors of the six-week ban —Sen. Emily Grail, R-Fort Pierce; Sen. Joe Gruters, R-Sarasota; and Sen. Clay Yarborough, R-Jacksonville — literally crossed out the words "15 weeks" in the 2022 bill and replaced them with "six weeks."

Sponsors of the House bill included state Reps. Jennifer Canady, R-Lakeland, and Jenna Persons-Mulicka, R-Fort Myers.

"We have the opportunity to lead the national debate about the importance of protecting life and giving every child the opportunity to be born and find his or her purpose," said Persons-Mulicka.

“We are proud to support life and family in the state of Florida,” said DeSantis during the bill-signing ceremony in his office at the Capitol. “I applaud the Legislature for passing the Heartbeat Protection Act that expands pro-life protections and provides additional resources for young mothers and families.”

He criticized other states, including California and New York, saying they have "legalized infanticide up until birth" by failing to pass anti-abortion legislation.

Alabama, Louisiana and Mississippi have banned abortion at all stages of pregnancy, while Georgia passed a six-week ban similar to Florida's.

In recent weeks, Republicans have attempted to pass similar measures in Kentucky, Michigan and Wisconsin but were shot down.

The Heartbeat Protection Act is slated to take effect 30 days after the Florida Supreme Court upholds the legal challenge currently being considered by the court for the 15-week abortion ban, passed by the Florida Legislature during the 2022 legislative session just months before the U.S. Supreme Courts overruled Roe vs. Wade in June, which gave women the right to an abortion.

In overturning the 50-year-old law giving women the right to get an abortion, the U.S. Supreme Court stated that decisions concerning abortions should be left to the states.

In previous challenges, the Florida Supreme Court has ruled that the Florida Constitution does not guarantee the right to an abortion. With DeSantis' new conservative appointees to the court, Republicans expect the court to be equally adamant in its insistence that an abortion is not a right.

"Let's be clear," Book addressed women throughout the state. "Abortion until 15 weeks is still legal in Florida until the Supreme Court decides our fate. For now, keep your appointments for care and make new ones if you need them. If the law does go into effect, there will still be options for women — not in this state, but abortion funds will help women become medical refugees for needed health care.

She warned women not to take matters into their own hands "and put your life at risk with back-alley abortions. There are people who will help you get proper medical care. Contact my office if you need to be directed to resources," she said.

The signing of the six-week abortion ban into law didn't escape the attention of the White House.

Following Thursday's vote, White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre issued a statement on behalf of President Joe Biden.

"This ban would prevent four million Florida women of reproductive age from accessing abortion care after six weeks — before many women even know they're pregnant," Jean-Pierre wrote. "This ban would also impact the nearly 15 million women of reproductive age who live in abortion-banning states throughout the South, many of whom have previously relied on travel to Florida as an option to access care."

Florida Planned Parenthood Action will host a "virtual day of action" via Zoom Saturday from noon to 1 p.m., featuring U.S. Rep. Maxwell Frost, a Democrat representing District 10 in central Florida, including Orlando, and Florida Rep. Rep. Anna Eskamani, D-Orlando.

"Reproductive health care is a fundamental human right. We must protect bodily autonomy and choice for all people who can become pregnant," Frost said. "Instead, Florida Republican leaders passed a six-week abortion ban, a regressive, harmful, blatant attack on bodily autonomy.
Join me for a virtual day of action as we reach out to community members about the harmful effects of this ban and encourage them to join the fight."

To register, click here.

Other rallies include:

• A Bans Off Our Bodies Region 20 rally Saturday from noon to 5 p.m. at Kleman Plaza, 306 S Duval St., Tallahassee. Sign up here.
• A Democratic Women's Club of Palm Beach County rally Saturday from 4 to 5:30 p.m. at 1760 Palm Beach Lakes Blvd., West Palm Beach, on the sidewalk in front of Target.

If your organization is planning a rally, send the details to dann.white@patch.com.