JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Dozens of people in favor of abortion rights rallied in front of the Duval County courthouse Saturday to sound the alarm and push for people to vote “yes” on Amendment 4 in November, which would enshrine abortion rights in the state’s constitution.
This rally comes less than 30 days before Florida’s six-week abortion ban goes into effect.
Different speakers shared their stories. The group even took to the streets of Jacksonville with their message.
“Everybody has a right to feel how they personally feel about abortion. But what we don’t have a right to do is to tell other people what they can do with their body,” Sierra McCahon, president of Women’s March Jacksonville, said.
Come November, Florida voters will see Amendment 4 on the ballot. The summary reads:
“No law shall prohibit, penalize, delay, or restrict abortion before viability or when necessary to protect the patient’s health, as determined by the patient’s health care provider. This amendment does not change the Legislature’s constitutional authority to require notification to a parent or guardian before a minor has an abortion.”
McCahon said failing to protect abortion rights will put people at risk of serious injury or even death.
“At the end of the day, if we say we care about some, we care about women having access to the healthcare they need,” McCahon said.
News4JAX reached out to Duval County’s Republican Party Chairman, Dean Black, for his take on Amendment 4. He sent the following statement which reads:
“If passed, Amendment 4 would make Florida’s abortion law on par with New York and California. Abortion would be allowed up to birth and parental consent would be replaced with parental notification. Once the voters know of the radical nature of this amendment; I’m confident they will vote not to approve its passage.”
Duval County GOP Chairman Dean Black
MORE | Majority of recent abortions in Florida were performed for non-medical reasons, data shows
For Amendment 4 to move forward in Florida, 60% of voters must vote in November to approve it.
