Abortion advocates speak out against 15-week abortion ban before FL Senate votes

Abortion advocates, patients, and providers stood in front of the Florida Senate chambers Wednesday morning before the vote on HB 5  — the ban that would prohibit abortions after 15 weeks of pregnancy.

The state House has already passed the legislation similar to the Mississippi ban that is under review by the U.S. Supreme Court. And the Senate Appropriations Committee last week approved the bill as well, leading to a full vote in the Senate Wednesday.

“My colleague and I have filed 15 amendments as of this morning to save the people of Florida,” said Sen. Annette Taddeo, who represents parts of Miami-Dade County. “We will continue the fight for women rights.”

Noella Williams, who is a part of Florida A&M University Planned Parenthood Generation Action, spoke on behalf of how young people in Florida feel about the ban.

“I missed classes to attend  committee meetings and had my voice silenced by legislators who don’t want to hear young people… these people are suppose to protect us but yet this ban is being voted on today,” she said. Abortion bans are dangerous,” Williams said.

Planned Parenthood leaders and young people have been at the forefront since the onset of the 15-weeks ban circulating in the 2022 Florida legislature session.

The Florida Senate is the last stop for this legislation. If the Senate votes yes, the bill will go to Gov. Ron DeSantis for consideration.

HB 5 and the Senate version, SB 146, would eliminate access to abortion after 15 weeks in the state of Florida and force thousands of Floridians to travel out-of-state for care. The bill doesn’t include rape, incest and human trafficking.