ORLANDO, Fla. – Earlier this month, the Florida Supreme Court released two decisions that could significantly change abortion rights in the state.
Justices triggered a 6-week abortion ban to take effect May 1 by upholding the state's 15-week restrictions. The same day, justices ruled that Amendment 4, which would protect abortion up to 24 weeks, can appear before voters on the ballot in November.
If approved, the amendment would add the following language to the state's constitution: "No law shall prohibit, penalize, delay, or restrict abortion before viability or when necessary to protect the patient's health, as determined by the patient's healthcare provider."
Voters on both sides of the issue showed up at a rally in downtown Orlando over the weekend.
"Yes on 4" supporters
Organizers of the "Yes on 4" campaign said about 1,500 people came out to support the amendment, including Gail Quinn.
Quinn carried a sign that said, "We Aren't Ovary Acting!!!" and brought a group of women from her condo association who support the amendment.
"They should have the right to determine whether they bring a child into the world or whether they need an abortion for other healthcare reasons," Quinn said about pregnant people.
Anne Pierre drove several hours from Palm Beach County to attend the rally in Central Florida. Her sign read, "Stop Political Interference."
Pierre said she's encouraging everyone in Florida to vote "Yes" on Amendment 4.
"This is a democratic country where everybody has the right," Pierre said. "No one has the right to make a decision for a woman to know when they should carry a baby or not. At the end of the day, they will be the one taking care of it."
"No on 4" supporters
Wearing white, dozens of counter-protesters were also at the rally. Many held rosaries and crosses and called on voters to reject the amendment.
Alma McCormick held a sign that read "Vote No on 4," and "Amendment 4 = Abortion on Demand."
McCormick said she strongly disagrees with allowing abortion up to 24 weeks and will vote "No" on the amendment.
"It makes me not only sad, but it also makes me feel really bad for humanity. Because human life is for everyone, and the fact that some people don't really respect human life at any stage is really unbelievable at this point," McCormick said.
Christine Crafton also opposes the amendment. She held a sign that said, "Say No, Absolutely Not, to Abortion Amendment 4."
She's worried the amendment would make abortion too readily accessible in the state, well into the second trimester.
"This particular amendment is particularly offensive because it just totally opens up the door to a rather cavalier decision to abort one's child," Crafton said.
Crafton said she wishes the state would do more to educate women on other options, outside of abortion.
Amendments in Florida only pass if 60% or more of voters approve them. That's a higher bar than most other states, including Michigan and Ohio where voters passed amendments enshrining abortion rights in their state constitutions.
If it passes in November, Amendment 4 will overturn both the 15-week and 6-week abortion bans.
Florida is one of about a dozen states with an effort to get abortion rights on the ballot this fall.
is a reporter at Central Florida Public Media in Orlando.
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