MEDIA ADVISORY
Today, September 21, Agriculture Commissioner Nikki Fried, Sen. Annette Taddeo, Rep. Anna Eskamani and other elected officials will join Planned Parenthood and other advocates for reproductive freedom including the Florida Latina Institute for Reproductive Justice, Women’s March Florida, Florida Rising and American Atheists on the first day of committee weeks to hold a press conference in opposition to a Texas-style abortion ban in Florida.
“A Texas-style abortion ban and bounty hunter bill in Florida represents the greatest threat to bodily autonomy and personal freedom in generations,” said Laura Goodhue, Executive Director for the Florida Alliance of Planned Parenthood Affiliates. “We are here to tell legislative leaders in no uncertain terms that we will not stand for this in Florida.”
The “bans off our bodies” press conference will take place today at 11:30AM in the Capitol courtyard (between old and new Capitol, Senate side) immediately following an 11:00AM press conference by Dignity Power in the Capitol Rotunda. Note: Erica Thompson will also be sharing her story at the 11:30 event on behalf of the Dignity Coalition to show why pregnant mothers need legislators to focus on reforming criminal justice laws instead of health care bans.
This unconstitutional law in Texas, that Florida leaders are now looking to emulate, bans abortion at six weeks — before many people even know they’re pregnant — and it means that as many as ninety-percent of Texas patients simply won’t be able to get an abortion. Even more shocking, people who help or even intend to help someone get an abortion after six weeks in Texas could be sued by a neighbor, distant relative, abusive partner, or even a stranger from out of state — and collect a $10,000 bounty for each successful claim.
