Sadi Summerlin drove from Louisiana to Florida on Thursday morning after
hearing abortion rights were at stake in the Sunshine State.
“Right now, Florida is where we have access to abortion. This fight is just as
much our fight as it is Florida’s,” Summerlin said.
Protesters rallied Friday on the steps of the state Supreme Court following a
hearing where state attorneys and a multitude of organizations, including Planned
Parenthood affiliates, clashed over the intent of the privacy clause in the state
constitution.
Summerlin, the founder of Pro-Choice with Heart, said she couldn’t stand by
since Louisiana lost abortion rights following the overturning of Roe v. Wade by the U.S.
Supreme Court in June of 2022.
Of the seven justices on the state’s supreme court, five were appointed by Gov.
Ron DeSantis, who is running for the Republican nomination for president.
Pro-choice advocates are concerned that the conservative court will reverse the
34-year-old ruling and change the current 15-week abortion ban, to six-weeks, which
was approved earlier this year by the Republican-controlled Legislature.
Summerlin said over 300 people were expected to attend Friday’s rally. To their
surprise, only 40 people showed up.
“It is about representation and visibility so that people out there know that we’re
here and they aren’t alone,” said Staphany Miro, the organizer of the rally with Bans off
our Bodies. “We mobilized on behalf of all the people who are disenfranchised.”
Advocates gathered at the Common Ground book store on North Bronough
Street with tables and tents set up with educational pamphlets, and materials like
condoms and emergency contraceptives.
Those in attendance held lengthy discussions about the issue many deemed
“nonpartisan.”
“My body is not your political battleground,” Miro said in her message to
lawmakers. “This is not political; it is very nonpartisan.”
Emily Kasten, who drove in from Port Charlotte, Florida, said she wants to see
Florida lawmakers show constituents they care.
“It’s daunting to think these people don’t care about you,” Kasten said through
tears. ” The legislators do not care about their people.”
It may be months before the state’s Supreme Court renders a verdict on Friday’s
hearing, which could easily advance to the U.S. Supreme Court.