Advocates rally for abortion rights in Orlando amid reversal of Roe v. Wade
Hundreds of abortion rights supporters gathered at the Renaissance Theatre in Orlando Friday night for a rally organized in response to the Supreme Court's ruling overturning Roe v. Wade.
The rally brought together a variety of local abortion rights, activists, organizers and supporters. We also heard from several anti-abortion rights activists and lawmakers today.
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"I knew it was coming. We knew that it would happen but when it becomes real then you are just devastated,” Debbie Deland, president of Florida NOW said.
The rally was hosted by Democratic State Rep. Anna Eskamani from Orange County who said she felt compelled to organize something in the wake of such a historic ruling.
"Never in modern history, never in my lifetime, even my parents' lifetime, have we seen rights for women in this country go backward, and so we're coming together to not only raise the alarm bells but also to find solidarity,” Eskamani said.
But abortion-rights supporters were not the only ones making their voices heard.
Anti-abortion rights advocates also spoke up, saying this ruling was not a step backward but instead a significant step forward.
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"Our goal is to view abortion as we view slavery. Something that is barbaric, horrific and unthinkable, and to put it into society, we hope for a day we are going to look back and say 'how did we do this? How did we destroy human beings,’” John Stemberger with the Florida Family Policy Council said.
Many Republican state lawmakers are also happy, saying the court's decision gives power back to the states where they say it should be.
"I think it's a great day for the people of Florida. It's a great day for the Constitution because the Supreme Court has reaffirmed that these should be decisions made by the states, and by state legislatures. and not by them,” Republican Rep. Randy Fine, Brevard County, said.
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Abortion rights supporters are calling on more people to organize and vote in November to keep abortion legal in Florida.
Anti-abortion rights advocates are calling for Florida lawmakers to ban abortion altogether.