Advertisement

Florida Is Moving Forward With Its 6-Week Abortion Ban

view of pro choice demonstrators, may with signs, as they march on pennsylvania avenue, washington dc, november 20, 1970 among the visible signs are several that read abortion, a womans right to choose, and one that reads defend shirley wheeler, referencing the first woman prosecuted under floridas abortion laws and possibly the first in the united states she was convicted the following year photo by leif skoogforsgetty images
Florida Moving Forward With 6-Week Abortion BanLeif Skoogfors - Getty Images

Abortion rights are no longer protected in Florida.

The Florida Supreme Court, one of the most conservative in the country, issued a decision today upholding the state’s 15-week abortion ban and paving the way for a six-week ban to take affect.

After the U.S. Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade in 2022, many Southern states tightened their abortion laws, but Florida remained somewhat open, and many women from nearby states traveled there for their procedures. Now, however, the state is joining its Republican allies in cracking down on women’s reproductive rights.

pro choice campaigners at a march for womens equality in washington, dc, 9th april 1989 one placard reads keep your laws off my body photo by barbara alpergetty images
Barbara Alper - Getty Images

The abortion ban that Florida Governor Ron DeSantis signed into law last year will now take effect in 30 days, and will prohibit women from getting an abortion after more than six weeks of pregnancy—before most women even know they’re pregnant. The ban grants exceptions in case of rape, incest, and if the life of the mother is in danger due to pregnancy complications.

The law will be a devastating step in the wrong direction amid the rise in anti-abortion laws, pushed by the right wing, in the U.S.

This news comes nearly two years into a major lawsuit from the American Civil Liberties Union on behalf of Planned Parenthood, the Center for Reproductive Rights, and other abortion providers against the state of Florida. The suit asks for Florida’s 15-week abortion ban to be thrown out, claiming it violates the state’s constitution.

original caption st louis three generations apart but together on their stand on abortion, adelle thomas, 67 l, her daughter, marie higgins, 47 center, and her daughter, catherine starr, 17 r, join in the picket line here 524 which marched around city hall the pickets were protesting mayor john poelker's refusal to allow city hospitals to perform abortions, despite two court rulings outlawing missouri's anti abortion lawsphoto by bettmann archivegetty images
Bettmann - Getty Images

In a separate move, also today, the Florida Supreme Court decided to allow a ballot initiative that would detail the state of abortion rights in the state’s Constitution. This means Florida voters will be able to weigh in on the future of abortion access via their ballots this November, and either support women’s rights, or not.

You Might Also Like