'We Have To Keep Fighting': Rally For Abortion Rights In St. Pete

ST. PETERSBURG, FL — Amid vows to be vocal before the fall election and to turn out at the polls, abortion-rights and women's rights supporters rallied Tuesday outside the St. Petersburg Judicial Building.

The protest came after Politico revealed a leaked court U.S. Supreme Court majority draft opinion written by Justice Samuel Alito indicating the court would overturn Roe v. Wade, which established the right to an abortion. Alito wrote, "Roe was egregiously wrong from the start."

About 100 people showed up at the St. Pete rally, many carrying signs that read, "My Body, My Choice," "Keep Your Laws Out Of My Drawers" and "Abortion Bans Don't Stop Abortions — Only Safe Ones."

Angie Giunta, a St. Pete resident, told Patch that Roe v. Wade was a turning point and that she never thought access to an abortion would be against the law.

"We have to keep fighting for ourselves, for the next generation as a democracy," Giunta said. "It hurts, but here we are. We're gonna keep going."

St. Pete City Council Members Deborah Figgs-Sanders and Richie Floyd, and state Reps. Ben Diamond and Michele Rayner voiced their support for women's access to abortions. They encouraged those in the crowd to organize in their neighborhoods, churches and communities.

"I'm going to implore you to vote for the least dangerous person," Floyd said from the steps of the judicial building. "Quite often, that's what it is. Please organize in your communities. Put pressure on the politicians that are in power right now. Make sure they hear you in between ... and make sure you don't lift a finger to help them get re-elected if they won't bite."

A majority decision to overturn Roe would send abortion access back to each state to decide.

Diamond said it's important for Floridians to pay attention because an explicit right to privacy is part of the state constitution.

"We are at a crisis moment in this country," Diamond said. "This is about a woman's right to access an abortion, but it's also about being able to marry who you want ... it's about the doctor being able to practice medicine without politicians telling her what to do."

Following the rally, the group walked to Central Avenue to continue rallying for abortion rights.
Supporter Lee Bryan, who held signs up during the rally, told Patch he thinks the potential abortion ban is the screaming of the dying dinosaurs.

"They know the meteors coming, and they're screaming like hell because they know they're about to perish," Bryan said. "I'm a white man and that's mostly who we have in charge. That's not a representative government. This is why we have to get more women elected."

Ahead of the expected ruling by the U.S. Supreme Court, Gov. Ron DeSantis signed a bill on April 14 that bans most abortions after 15 weeks.

"The new Florida law, which takes effect July 1, will replace a previous one that allowed abortions until 24 weeks of pregnancy," NPR reported.

Florida's new abortion law does not make exceptions for cases of incest, rape or human trafficking. If the life of a pregnant person can be saved or serious injury to them can be prevented, then it would permit an abortion.

The 1973 Roe v. Wade court decision affirmed the right to receive an abortion under the 14th Amendment. It ruled that abortions are constitutionally protected up until about 23 weeks, when a fetus could be able to live outside the womb.

"Legislators in 13 states have passed so-called trigger laws, which are bans designed to go into effect if Roe is overturned. In some cases, the law requires an official such as an attorney general to certify that Roe has been struck down before the law can take effect," CNN reported.

The 13 trigger-law states are Arkansas, Mississippi, Tennessee, Louisiana, Texas, Idaho, Kentucky, Missouri, North Dakota, South Dakota, Oklahoma, Utah and Wyoming.

The Guttmacher Institute said Florida — based on its political composition, history and other indicators such as actions to limit access to abortion — appears likely to ban abortion as soon as possible without federal protections in place.

Floridians will head to the polls Nov. 8 to elect a governor, with DeSantis seeking a second term.

The U.S. Supreme Court majority opinion draft has no immediate effect on abortions; an official ruling is expected late June or early July. Planned Parenthood said it is reminding Floridians that access to legal abortions still exists.