'My body, my choice!' Protesters march on Alabama's capitol to oppose state's new abortion law
- The demonstration came days after Gov. Kay Ivey signed the most stringent abortion law in the nation
- The state's new law makes performing an abortion a felony in nearly all cases
- There's an exception for a mother's health, but no exception for rape or incest
- Sunday's marchers said the pro-life measures have energized supporters of legalized abortion and they are digging in for a legal and political fight
- The protesters passed by scattered counter demonstrators raising signs
Hundreds of demonstrators marched to Alabama's Capitol Sunday to protest the state's newly approved abortion ban, chanting 'my body, my choice!' and 'vote them out!'
The demonstration came days after Gov. Kay Ivey signed the most stringent abortion law in the nation - making performing an abortion a felony in nearly all cases unless necessary for the mother's health.
The law provides no exception for rape or incest.
'Banning abortion does not stop abortion. It stops safe abortion,' said Staci Fox, CEO and president of Planned Parenthood Southeast, addressing the cheering crowd outside the Capitol.
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Kelli Thompson chants at the Alabama State Capitol during the March for Reproductive Freedom against the state's new abortion law in Montgomery, Alabama on Sunday. She was joined by hundreds of demonstrators who oppose the state's newly approved abortion ban
People walk to the Alabama State Capitol on Sunday. The demonstration came days after Gov. Kay Ivey signed the most stringent abortion law in the nation
People listen at the Alabama State Capitol during the March for Reproductive Freedom against the state's new abortion law. Alabama is part of a wave of conservative states seeking to mount new legal challenges to Roe v. Wade, the 1973 landmark Supreme Court decision that legalized abortion nationwide
Staci Fox of Planned Parenthood Southeast speaks at the Alabama State Capitol on Sunday
Staci Fox (pictured), CEO and president of Planned Parenthood Southeast, told demonstrators on Sunday that 'banning abortion does not stop abortion. It stops safe abortion'
Pro-choice protesters march through the streets of Birmingham, Alabama on Sunday in solidarity with demonstrators in the state's capitol city of Montgomery
Lindsey Shelton participates in a rally against one of the nation's most restrictive bans on abortions on Sunday
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Alabama is part of a wave of conservative states seeking to mount new legal challenges to Roe v. Wade, the 1973 landmark Supreme Court decision that legalized abortion nationwide.
Governors in Kentucky, Mississippi, Ohio and Georgia have approved bans on abortion once a fetal heartbeat is detected, which can happen as early as the sixth week of pregnancy.
None of the laws have actually taken effect, and all are expected to be blocked by the courts as the legal challenges play out with an ultimate eye on the Supreme Court.
Marchers on Sunday said the measures have energized supporters of legalized abortion, and they say they are digging in for a legal and political fight. Along the route they took, the protesters passed by scattered counter-demonstrators.
Gov. Kay Ivey (R-Alabama) signed the most stringent abortion law in the nation on Wednesday
Two speakers at the rally on the Capitol steps shared their stories of having an abortion, including a woman who came out of the crowd to describe the abortion she had after being raped at a party at age 18.
Carrying an orange sign with a coat hanger and the caption 'No Never Again,' 69-year-old Deborah Hall of Montgomery said she remembers life before Roe and can't believe the push to return there.
'I had friends who had illegal abortions and barely survived,' said Hall, who for a time ran a clinic in Montgomery that provided abortion, birth control and other services.
'I still cannot believe it. It's really a scary time for everybody,' she said of the push to overturn Roe.
Similar demonstrations were held in Birmingham and Huntsville on Sunday.
Democratic presidential candidate Bernie Sanders addressed the abortion issue during a well-attended campaign rally in Kelly Ingram Park just before that city's own pro-choice rally started.
Presidential candidate and US Sen. Bernie Sanders (D-Vermont) (center) tweeted this photo of himself greeting pro-choice protesters in Birmingham, Alabama on Sunday. Sanders hosted a campaign rally in Birmingham just ahead of the pro-choice rally
Sanders said Georgia and Alabama's new anti-abortion laws are part of a 'well-funded attack coordinated by right wing extremists.'
He called the measures 'disgraceful' and 'Draconian' before vowing to mandate any judicial nominees he reviews as president, if he's elected, be supportive of Rowe v. Wade to be considered for federal appellate or supreme court appointments.
'I will have a litmus test,' Sanders said. 'I will not appoint anyone to the United Sates Supreme Court unless that man or woman is prepared to defend Roe v. Wade.'
Amanda Reyes, who runs Yellowhammer Fund, a nonprofit that provides funding to help low-income women obtain abortions, said donations have begun streaming in since passage of the Alabama bill.
Protesters for women's rights march past Dexter Avenue Baptist Church to the Alabama Capitol on Sunday in Montgomery, Alabama
Audri Scott Williams speaks at the Alabama State Capitol during the March for Reproductive Freedom against the state's new abortion law, the Alabama Human Life Protection Act, in Montgomery, Alabama on Sunday
Shannon Davis heads to the Alabama State Capitol during the March for Reproductive Freedom against the state's new abortion law, the Alabama Human Life Protection Act, in Montgomery, Alabama on Sunday
Groups this week paid for a small plane carrying a banner 'Abortion is Okay!' to circle the Capitol and the Governor's Mansion.
The Alabama law would make it a felony, punishable by up to 99 years or life in prison, to perform an abortion. There would be no punishment for the woman receiving the abortion.
But the protest outside the Capitol Sunday comes in a state where a majority of voters recently agreed to put anti-abortion language in the Alabama Constitution. Fifty-nine per cent of state voters in November approved the constitutional amendment saying the state recognizes the rights of the 'unborn.'
'To the bill's many supporters, this legislation stands as a powerful testament to Alabamians' deeply held belief that every life is precious and that every life is a sacred gift from God,' Ivey said in a statement after signing the ban into law.
Women hold signs as they gather to march to the Capitol for women's rights on Sunday
Cailin Howie and Kaitlyn Edwards, of Huntsville, wait to march with others to the Alabama Capitol in protest a law passed last week making abortion a felony in nearly all cases with no exceptions for cases of rape or incest on Sunday in Montgomery, Alabama
The Alabama law has also come under criticism by some conservatives who have expressed discomfort by the lack of exceptions for rape and incest.
President Donald Trump, while not mentioning Alabama's law, wrote in a weekend tweet that he is strongly 'pro-life' but favors exceptions.
'As most people know, and for those who would like to know, I am strongly Pro-Life, with the three exceptions - Rape, Incest and protecting the Life of the mother - the same position taken by Ronald Reagan,' Trump wrote in a series of tweets.
Rep. Terri Collins, the sponsor of the Alabama law, said the purpose is to challenge Roe and added that Alabama lawmakers can come back and add exemptions if states regain control of abortion access.
