Stop the Bans

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Stop the Bans
This body in not a political battlefield sign at a Stop Abortion Bans Rally in St Paul, Minnesota (40936187783).jpg
Rally in front of the Minnesota State Capitol
DateMay 21, 2019 (2019-05-21)
LocationUnited States
TypeDemonstrations
Organized by

Stop the Bans was a series of rallies held in the United States on May 21, 2019, protesting abortion bans and restrictions. Supporting organizations include the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), NARAL Pro-Choice America, and Planned Parenthood. [1] Protesters at the Stop the Bans rallies were concerned about women's rights being eroded. [2] Demonstrators at the rallies felt that politicians should not be making medical decisions about women's bodies. [3]

Contents

Exigence

In 2019, nine states implemented gestational age bans on abortion, including, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, Ohio, Missouri, Arkansas, Utah, and Alabama. [4] abortion rights supporters considered these bans as extreme. [5]

Alabama's ban was the most restrictive, aiming to make abortion illegal in all cases including those of incest and rape, and allowing doctors to face 99 years in prison for performing abortions. [6] Supporters also considered laws regarding abortion in Michigan to be extreme. [3] Within Nebraska, North Dakota, Kentucky, and Oklahoma, legislators moved to enact abortion counseling requirements. Additionally, four of the aforementioned states banned abortions based on a patient’s reason for seeking an abortion.

These bans challenged the abortion standards set forth in Roe v. Wade, which for 46 years prior allowed women to get abortions until fetuses were "viable" which medical professionals gauge as occurring 24-28 weeks into a pregnancy. [1] These bans were enacted following Donald Trump's attempt to roll back abortion laws (specifically implementing Global Gag Rules). Protestors at the New York demonstrations described themselves as responding to a change in the governments relationship to abortion. [7]

Between the start of 2011 and May 31, 2019, almost 500 abortion restrictions were created across 33 states, accounting for more than one third of abortion restrictions enacted since Roe v. Wade's initial legalization (1973). [8]

Locations

Demonstrations were organized in possibly all fifty U.S. states. [5] [9]

Northeast

New York saw protests in Manhattan and Mineola. [14]

South

Florida saw demonstrations in Fort Myers [27] and St. Petersburg. [28] [29]

In Maryland, there were protests in Annapolis and Towson. [30] [31]

In Texas, there was a rally held in El Paso at the County Courthouse. [32]

Midwest

Erin Maye Quade speaking at the demonstration in Saint Paul, Minnesota StopTheBan Erin May Quade speaks at Stop Abortion Bans Rally.jpg
Erin Maye Quade speaking at the demonstration in Saint Paul, Minnesota
Demonstration in Columbus, Ohio Stop The Bans IMG 1000-(214) (40936578713).jpg
Demonstration in Columbus, Ohio

Participating cities in Iowa included Cedar Rapids and Des Moines. [37] [38]

In Indiana, there were protests in Fort Wayne and Indianapolis. [39] [40] [41]

Michigan saw demonstrations in Ann Arbor, Detroit, [42] Ferndale, [3] and Lansing. [43] [44]

In Missouri, there were demonstrations in Jefferson City and St. Louis. [45] [36]

Wisconsin saw protests in Appleton and Eau Claire. [46] [47]

West

California saw demonstrations in Los Angeles, [50] San Francisco, San Jose, Oakland, Palo Alto, [51] Fullerton, Irvine, Mission Viejo, San Clemente, San Diego, [52] [53] San Luis Obispo, [54] Santa Barbara, [55] and Sebastopol. [2]

In Colorado, there were protests in Boulder and Fort Collins. [56]

An event was also planned in Coeur d'Alene, Idaho. [57]

Oregon saw demonstrations in Eugene and Portland. [58] [59] [60]

In Washington state, there were demonstrations in Seattle, [36] Spokane, [61] and Yakima. [62]

In Wyoming, a protest took place in Laramie. [63]

See also

Related Research Articles

Abortion in Oklahoma is illegal unless the abortion is necessary to save the life of a pregnant individual.

Abortion in Alabama is illegal. Historically, Alabama's abortion laws have evolved from strict regulations in the late 19th and early 20th centuries to a period of liberalization following the landmark 1973 Supreme Court decision in Roe v. Wade, which legalized abortion nationwide. However, Alabama has consistently enacted legislation aimed at restricting access to abortion.

Abortion in Illinois is legal up to the point of fetal viability. Laws about abortion dated to the early 1800s in Illinois; the first criminal penalties related to abortion were imposed in 1827, and abortion itself became illegal in 1867. As hospitals set up barriers in the 1950s, the number of therapeutic abortions declined. Following Roe v. Wade in 1973, Illinois passed a number of restrictions on abortion, many of which have subsequently been repealed. Illinois updated its existing abortion laws in June 2019. The state has seen a decline in the number of abortion clinics over the years, going from 58 in 1982 to 47 in 1992 to 24 in 2014.

Abortion in Alaska is legal at all stages of pregnancy. In September 2024, an Alaska superior court judge struck down the requirement that only licensed physicians provide abortions, meaning that the procedure can now also be legally performed by nurse practitioners and physician assistants. As of 2016, Alaska does not require a minor to notify a parent or guardian in order to obtain an abortion. 63% of adults said in a poll by the Pew Research Center that abortion should be legal in all or most cases. The 2023 American Values Atlas reported that, in their most recent survey, 69% of Alaskans said that abortion should be legal in all or most cases. Alaska was one of only four states to make abortion legal between 1967 and 1970, a few years before the US Supreme Court's decision in 1973's Roe v. Wade ruling. Alaska had consent requirements for women seeking abortions by 2007 that required abortion providers to warn patients of a link between abortion and breast cancer, despite it being scientifically unsupported.

Abortion in Arkansas is illegal except when it is necessary to save the life of the pregnant individual. Doctors determined to have performed an abortion face up to 10 years in prison and fines up to $100,000.

Abortion in Colorado is legal at all stages of pregnancy. It is one of seven states without any term restrictions as to when a pregnancy can be terminated.

Abortion in Delaware is legal up to the point of fetal viability. As of June 2024, Civiqs polling found that 72% of Delawareans believed that abortion should be legal in all or most cases, while 23% believed it should be illegal in all or most cases. There was a therapeutic exceptions in the state's legislative ban on abortions by 1900. Informed consent laws were on the books by 2007. In 2017, Senator Bryan Townsend, D-Newark introduced legislation to try to make clear that abortion would remain legal in the state in case 1973's Roe v. Wade ruling was overturned. The legislation was subsequently updated. Attempts have been made to introduce mandatory ultrasound laws, but they failed to get out of committee. State legislators tried to move ahead the week at which a woman could get a legal abortion in 2019.

Abortion in the District of Columbia is legal at all stages of pregnancy. In 1971, in United States v. Vuitch, the U.S. Supreme Court upheld a law saying abortion was allowed for health reasons, which include "psychological and physical well-being". Consequently, the District of Columbia became a destination for women seeking abortions starting that year.

As of 2024, abortion is generally illegal in Indiana. It is only legal in cases involving fatal fetal abnormalities, to preserve the life and physical health of the mother, and in cases of rape or incest up to 10 weeks of pregnancy. Previously abortion in Indiana was legal up to 20 weeks; a near-total ban that was scheduled to take effect on August 1, 2023, was placed on hold due to further legal challenges, but is set to take place, after the Indiana Supreme Court denied an appeal by the ACLU, and once it certifies a previous ruling that an abortion ban doesn't violate the state constitution. In the wake of the 2022 Dobbs Supreme Court ruling, abortion in Indiana remained legal despite Indiana lawmakers voting in favor of a near-total abortion ban on August 5, 2022. Governor Eric Holcomb signed this bill into law the same day. The new law became effective on September 15, 2022. However, on September 22, 2022, Special Judge Kelsey B. Hanlon of the Monroe County Circuit Court granted a preliminary injunction against the enforcement of the ban. Her ruling allows the state's previous abortion law, which allows abortions up to 20 weeks after fertilization with exceptions for rape and incest, to remain in effect.

Abortion in Michigan is legal throughout pregnancy. A state constitutional amendment to explicitly guarantee abortion rights was placed on the ballot in 2022 as Michigan Proposal 22–3; it passed with 57 percent of the vote, adding the right to abortion and contraceptive use to the Michigan Constitution. The amendment largely prevents the regulation of abortion before fetal viability, unless said regulations are to protect the individual seeking an abortion, and it also makes it unconstitutional to make laws restricting abortions which would protect the life and health, physical and/or mental, of the pregnant individual seeking abortion.

Abortion in Montana is legal at most stages of pregnancy. The number of abortion clinics in Montana has fluctuated over the years, with twenty in 1982, twelve in 1992, eight providers of which seven were clinics in 2011, and five clinics in 2014. There were four clinics from 2015 to February 2018 when All Families Healthcare clinic in Whitefish reopened. There were 1,690 legal abortions in 2014, and 1,611 in 2015.

Abortion in Nebraska is mostly illegal after the 12th week of pregnancy.

Abortion in Nevada is legal up to the 24th week of pregnancy, under the Nevada Revised Statutes chapter 442, section 250; and after 24 weeks if the pregnancy could be fatal for the mother. 62% of adults said in a 2014 poll by the Pew Research Center that abortion should be legal while 34% said it should by illegal in all or most cases. The 2023 American Values Atlas reported that, in their most recent survey, 76% of Nevadans said that abortion should be legal in all or most cases. Legislation by 2007 required informed consent. Attempts were successfully made to pass abortion legislation in May 2019, being pushed through a largely Democratic controlled state legislature. The number of abortion clinics in Nevada has declined over the years, with 25 in 1982, seventeen in 1992 and thirteen in 2014. There were 8,132 legal abortions in 2014, and 7,116 in 2015. Due to the high level of support for abortion rights in the state, continued access to abortion is supported by all parties, including the Republicans.

As of July 1, 2023, abortion in North Carolina is currently illegal after 12 weeks of pregnancy. In the case of rape or incest, abortion is legal through the 20th week of pregnancy. In the case of a "life-limiting" fetal abnormality, abortion is legal through the 24th week of pregnancy. If the woman's life is determined by a qualified physician to be at risk, abortion is legal at any stage of pregnancy. North Carolina is destination for many out-of-state women seeking abortions, as most US Southern states have implemented laws banning abortion after six weeks of pregnancy or near-total prohibitions on abortion.

Abortion in North Dakota is technically legal, but with no current providers. The state's sole abortion clinic, the Red River Women's Clinic, relocated to Minnesota.

Abortion in Rhode Island is legal up to the point of fetal viability. On June 19, 2019, the legal right to abortion was codified into Rhode Island law by passage of the Reproductive Privacy Act.

Abortion in Wisconsin has been legal since September 18, 2023, before which its legal status had been unclear since the overturn of Roe v Wade, and is performed in Madison, Milwaukee and Sheboygan through 22 weeks gestation. However, elective abortions in Wisconsin are under dispute after the overturning of Roe v. Wade by the Supreme Court of the United States on June 24, 2022. Abortion opponents cite an 1849 law that they claim bans the procedure in all cases except when the life of the mother is in danger. However, lower level courts have argued that the law only applies to infanticide and not consensual abortions. The enforceability of the law is disputed and being considered by the state courts. Planned Parenthood of Wisconsin announced that they would resume abortion services in Madison and Milwaukee on September 18, 2023. Planned Parenthood of Wisconsin later announced that they would resume abortion services in Sheboygan on December 28, 2023.

Abortion in California is legal up to the point of fetal viability. An abortion ban was in place by 1900, and by 1950, it was a criminal offense for a woman to have an abortion. In 1962, the American Law Institute published their model penal code, as it applied to abortions, with three circumstances where they believed a physician could justifiably perform an abortion, and California adopted a version of this code. In 2002, the California State Legislature passed a law guaranteeing women the right to have an abortion "prior to viability of the fetus, or when the abortion is necessary to protect the life or health of the woman". In 2022, 67% of California voters approved Proposition 1, which amended the Constitution of California to explicitly protect the right to abortion and contraception.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">United States abortion protests (2022–present)</span> 2022 protests following the ruling of Dobbs v. Jackson Womens Health Organization

A series of ongoing protests supporting abortion rights and anti-abortion counter-protests began in the United States on May 2, 2022, following the leak of a draft majority opinion for the U.S. Supreme Court case Dobbs v. Jackson Women's Health Organization, which stated that the Constitution of the United States does not confer any reproductive rights, thus overturning Roe v. Wade and Planned Parenthood v. Casey. On June 24, 2022, the Supreme Court officially overturned Roe and Casey in Dobbs, resulting in further protests outside of the U.S. Supreme Court building and across the country, eventually to major cities across the world both in favor of and against the decision.

References

  1. 1 2 Wamsley, Laurel (May 21, 2019). "Across the Country, Protesters Rally to Stop States' Abortion Bans". NPR . Retrieved May 22, 2019.
  2. 1 2 "SLIDESHOW: 'Stop the Bans' protest in Sebastopol". Sonoma West Publishers. May 24, 2019. Retrieved May 24, 2019.
  3. 1 2 3 Gray, Kathleen; Zaniewski, Ann (May 21, 2019). "Abortion rights supporters gather in cities across Michigan to protest bans". Detroit Free Press. Retrieved May 22, 2019.
  4. ↑ "State Policy Trends 2019: A Wave of Abortion Bans, But Some States Are Fighting Back | Guttmacher Institute". www.guttmacher.org. December 6, 2019. Retrieved December 3, 2024.
  5. 1 2 Yan, Holly; Levenson, Eric (May 21, 2019). "Abortion rights advocates protest to 'stop the bans' as more states pass fetal heartbeat bills". CNN . Retrieved May 22, 2019.
  6. ↑ Yang, Maya. "'Stop the bans': Abortion rights activists rally across the US". Al Jazeera. Retrieved December 3, 2024.
  7. ↑ Yang, Maya. "'Stop the bans': Abortion rights activists rally across the US". Al Jazeera. Retrieved December 3, 2024.
  8. ↑ "Unprecedented Wave of Abortion Bans is an Urgent Call to Action | Guttmacher Institute". www.guttmacher.org. May 21, 2019. Retrieved December 3, 2024.
  9. ↑ "Abortion rights activists hold protests in all 50 states to 'stop the bans'". NBC News . Retrieved May 22, 2019.
  10. ↑ Macedo, Manoella (May 21, 2019). "'Stop the bans' demonstrations to take place nationwide". WFXT . Retrieved May 22, 2019.
  11. ↑ "PHOTOS: Hundreds rally in support of women's rights". May 21, 2019.
  12. ↑ "'Stop the Bans' rallies held in Philadelphia, across U.S." 6abc Philadelphia. May 21, 2019. Retrieved May 22, 2019.
  13. ↑ "Pro-Choice Rhode Islanders participate in 'Stop the Bans' rally". ABC6. Retrieved May 22, 2019.
  14. ↑ "Rallies to keep abortion legal: 'A woman's choice'". Newsday. Retrieved May 22, 2019.
  15. ↑ Maya T. Prabhu, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. "Abortion rights activists rally in Georgia as states approve bans". Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Retrieved May 22, 2019.
  16. ↑ "Stop The Abortion Bans Protest Held In Atlanta". The People's Station V103. May 21, 2019. Retrieved May 22, 2019.
  17. ↑ Afzali, Nazir. "'Stop the Bans' protest held on Downtown Mall". CBS 19 News. Retrieved May 22, 2019.
  18. ↑ "'Stop the Bans' abortion rally underway in Louisville". WHAS11. May 21, 2019. Retrieved May 22, 2019.
  19. ↑ Edwards, Erin. "Dozens gather for "Stop the Bans" rally in Myrtle Beach". WMBF. Retrieved May 22, 2019.
  20. ↑ "Protesters rebuke anti-abortion laws, share stories in Nashville 'Stop the Bans' rally". The Tennessean. Retrieved May 22, 2019.
  21. ↑ Hall, Jason (May 20, 2019). "TN activists to rally against abortion bans in Nashville for Stop The Bans Day of Action". WZTV. Retrieved May 22, 2019.
  22. ↑ By. "Abortions rights supporters rally as part of national response to new laws". newsobserver. Retrieved May 22, 2019.
  23. ↑ "'Stop the Ban' rally in Raleigh draws large crowd of abortion rights supporters". ABC11 Raleigh-Durham. May 22, 2019. Retrieved May 22, 2019.
  24. ↑ Alexandra Hutzler On 5/21/19 at 4:33 PM EDT (May 21, 2019). "Many 2020 Democrats were spotted at #StopTheBans rally on Tuesday as they condemned a wave of anti-abortion laws". Newsweek. Retrieved May 22, 2019.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  25. ↑ "Thousands across the country are protesting extreme abortion laws today. The scene is incredible". Mother Jones. Retrieved May 22, 2019.
  26. ↑ "National abortion debate resonates in Delaware at #StopTheBans rally". delawareonline. Retrieved May 22, 2019.
  27. ↑ Davis, John (May 21, 2019). "SWFL Protesters Join National "Stop the Bans" Demonstrations Against Anti-Abortion Laws". Wgcu PBS & NPR for Southwest Florida. Retrieved May 22, 2019.
  28. ↑ "'Stop the Bans' protesters rally in St. Pete for abortion rights amid rollbacks across U.S." Tampa Bay Times. May 21, 2019. Retrieved May 22, 2019.
  29. ↑ George, Bradley (May 21, 2019). "St. Petersburg Protestors Rally Against Abortion Bans". wusfnews.wusf.usf.edu. Retrieved May 22, 2019.
  30. ↑ Gazette, Capital. "Stop The Bans Rally in Annapolis". capitalgazette.com. Retrieved May 22, 2019.
  31. ↑ "Reproductive Rights Rally In Towson A Response To Abortion Bans". Towson, MD Patch. May 21, 2019. Retrieved May 22, 2019.
  32. ↑ Litton, Andra (May 22, 2019). "Abortion rights advocates hold #StopTheBans rally in El Paso". KTSM. Retrieved May 24, 2019.
  33. ↑ Schulte, Sarah (May 21, 2019). "Amid protests, Illinois prepares for Supreme Court to take up abortion bans". ABC-7 Chicago. Retrieved May 29, 2019.
  34. ↑ Julia Conley (May 21, 2019). "'This Is Not A Drill': Amid GOP Attack, Pro-Choice #StopTheBans Rallies Take Place Nationwide". Common Dreams. Retrieved May 29, 2019.
  35. ↑ "Abortion Debate Takes Focus During 'Stop The Bans' Rally". KVRR Local News. May 21, 2019. Retrieved May 22, 2019.
  36. 1 2 3 Seelinger, Lani. "Here's How To Find The Protest Against Abortion Bans Closest To You". Bustle. Retrieved May 22, 2019.
  37. ↑ Rohden, Lucy. ""Stop the Bans" protest held in downtown Cedar Rapids". www.kcrg.com. Retrieved May 22, 2019.
  38. ↑ "Iowa Abortion Rights Activists Hold 'Stop the Bans' Rally, Pro-Life Activists Respond". whotv.com. May 22, 2019. Retrieved May 22, 2019.
  39. ↑ Anguiano, Barbara (May 21, 2019). "Protesters Write Letters As Part Of The "Stop The Bans" Movement". WFYI Public Media. Retrieved May 22, 2019.
  40. ↑ "'An answer to prayers': 200 rally against abortion laws in Indianapolis". amp.indystar.com. Retrieved May 22, 2019.
  41. ↑ "'Stop the Bans' abortion rally at the Indiana Statehouse". www.indystar.com. Retrieved May 22, 2019.
  42. ↑ "Protesters marching against abortion bans today in metro Detroit". WXYZ. May 21, 2019. Retrieved May 22, 2019.
  43. ↑ News 10, Carla Bayron. "'Stop The Bans On Abortions' rally at State Capitol". www.wilx.com. Retrieved May 22, 2019.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  44. ↑ "Women rally at State Capitol". WSYM. May 21, 2019. Retrieved May 22, 2019.
  45. ↑ "Protesters at Missouri Capitol seek to end bans on abortion". News Tribune. May 22, 2019. Retrieved May 22, 2019.
  46. ↑ News, Gabrielle Mays, FOX 11 (May 21, 2019). "Rally held in Appleton to protest abortion bans". WLUK. Retrieved May 22, 2019.{{cite web}}: |last= has generic name (help)CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  47. ↑ "Abortion laws protested in Eau Claire and around the nation". WQOW. May 21, 2019. Retrieved May 22, 2019.
  48. ↑ Follow @fbihop; Matthew, More by (May 22, 2019). "Protesters march to 'stop the bans' on abortion". The NM Political Report. Retrieved May 22, 2019.
  49. ↑ "Live: 'Stop the Bans' rally in Juneau". Juneau Empire. May 21, 2019. Retrieved May 22, 2019.
  50. ↑ Colleen Shalby (May 21, 2019). "Thousands gather at abortion-rights rallies across U.S. in opposition to antiabortion laws". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved May 29, 2019.
  51. ↑ Kristin J. Bender (May 21, 2019). "Abortion-rights rallies held in SF, SJ, on the steps of the Supreme Court". FOX KTVU-2. Retrieved May 29, 2019.
  52. ↑ Pignataro, Anthony (May 21, 2019). "100+ Rally at HB Pier to Protest Abortion Bans". OC Weekly. Retrieved May 22, 2019.
  53. ↑ "Rallies are part of 'Stop the Bans' movement". KGTV. May 22, 2019. Retrieved May 22, 2019.
  54. ↑ By. "'Women aren't being treated equally': Hundreds rally for abortion rights in SLO". sanluisobispo. Retrieved May 22, 2019.
  55. ↑ Martinez, Alys (May 21, 2019). "Santa Barbara joins nationwide protests against abortion bans". KEYT. Retrieved May 22, 2019.
  56. ↑ "Colorado women join others across the nation to 'stop the bans'". KMGH. May 22, 2019. Retrieved May 22, 2019.
  57. ↑ Robinson, Erin (May 21, 2019). "Pro-choice rallies planned for Tuesday in Spokane, Coeur d'Alene". KXLY. Retrieved May 22, 2019.
  58. ↑ Darling, Dylan. "Hundreds rally in Eugene to protest abortion bans". The Register-Guard. Retrieved May 22, 2019.
  59. ↑ Staff, News (May 21, 2019). "Rally in Eugene part of national Stop the Bans effort protesting anti-abortion laws". KVAL. Retrieved May 22, 2019.{{cite web}}: |first= has generic name (help)
  60. ↑ "'Stop the Bans' rally held in Portland in protest of restrictive abortion laws passed in other states". KPTV.com. Retrieved May 22, 2019.
  61. ↑ "Spokane hosts pro-choice rally amid wave of U.S. abortion bans". KREM. May 21, 2019. Retrieved May 22, 2019.
  62. ↑ "Yakima locals participate in National "Stop the Bans" day of action". NBC Right Now. Retrieved May 22, 2019.
  63. ↑ Mullen, Maggie (May 22, 2019). ""Stop The Bans" Gatherings Held Across The Region". www.wyomingpublicmedia.org. Retrieved May 24, 2019.
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