Abortion rights protest planned for Friday night in St. Petersburg
Hispanics want to keep abortion legal, but it isn't a top priority. Image via The Associated Press.

iowa abortion protest ap
The decision was called an unconscionable attack on bodily autonomy.

Within an hour of the Supreme Court ruling overturning Roe v. Wade, Progress Florida announced a coalition of groups are gathering in St. Petersburg for a “Bans Off Our Bodies” protest later that afternoon.

“Today’s decision represents an unconscionable attack on our fundamental right to control our own bodies, opening the door for millions of people across the country to lose access to safe and legal abortion,” said Amy Weintraub, Reproductive Rights Program Director at Progress Florida.

“This decision won’t change the fact that people across the country will always need abortion care, but it will further embolden anti-abortion politicians to push for the nationwide total ban on abortion they’ve sought all along.”

Groups participating in the event also include Pinellas NOW, West Pinellas NOW, NAACP-Pinellas, LWV St. Petersburg Area, Equality Florida, Women’s Advocacy Movement of Pinellas, Fired Up Pinellas and Indivisible FL-13.

Charlie Crist, Congressman and Democratic candidate for Governor, is planning to be at the rally.

“On Day 1 of the Crist Administration, I will sign an Executive Order to protect a woman’s right to choose,” he said in a statement. “Fighting every day for the women of our state will be a cornerstone of my administration.”

Writing the opinion of the Court, Justice Samuel Alito said, “Abortion presents a profound moral question. The Constitution does not prohibit the citizens of each State from regulating or prohibiting abortion. Roe and Casey arrogated that authority. We now overrule those decisions and return that authority to the people and their elected representatives.”

Joining him were Justices Clarence Thomas, Neil Gorsuch, Brett Kavanaugh and Amy Coney Barrett. Chief Justice John Roberts concurred with the judgment. Dissenting were Justices Stephen Breyer, Sonia Sotomayor and Elena Kagan.

The Bans Off Our Bodies protest is set for 5 p.m. at North Straub Park, 400 Bayshore Dr. NE, in St. Petersburg.

Wes Wolfe

Wes Wolfe is a reporter who's worked for newspapers across the South, winning press association awards for his work in Georgia and the Carolinas. He lives in Jacksonville and previously covered state politics, environmental issues and courts for the News-Leader in Fernandina Beach. You can reach Wes at [email protected] and @WesWolfeFP. Facebook: facebook.com/wes.wolfe


8 comments

  • Denise Ruggiero

    June 24, 2022 at 12:14 pm

    What about the Pride celebration traffic downtown this weekend?
    Shouldn’t we move it so we are safer? I fear Supremacist militia counter protestor/shit stirrers. Have we coordinated with an overburdened SPPD? Will the chief keep us safe?

  • Richard Bruce

    June 24, 2022 at 1:06 pm

    Irony is missed on the perpetually outraged. Abortionists want the Gov’t out of their bodies, but demand the Gov’t protect them. Abortionists love the Supreme Court when supporting their causes, but think the Court is illegitimate when opposing them. Leftists preach inclusion and equity but refuse to accept alternative views and reject equal consideration with those they disagree.

    • Thorne

      June 24, 2022 at 2:07 pm

      I’ve noticed you think about human beings by the groups you believe they are a part of. This means you don’t see the real people affected by these issues. You only deal with fantasy caricatures of humans, which is a slippery slope towards dehumanization. I hope you catch your logical error and take certain steps to reaffirm you’re love for self/others.

    • Edward Lyle

      June 26, 2022 at 9:09 am

      Indeed… the hypocrisy is astonishing. The so-called “party of science” that refuses to acknowledge the “science” of life and gender.

      … a strange and deranged lot to be sure

  • Edward Lyle

    June 26, 2022 at 9:05 am

    Amazing how many people know so little about our Constitution and the role of the three branches of our Federal government. Under Democrat control, two of our three branches of government are attacking the third, calling for its dissolution, and inciting riots with intent to harm them and their families.

    This is a “real” Constitutional Crisis… this is a “real” attempted insurrection.

  • Nunya

    June 27, 2022 at 9:14 pm

    I know you guys…oops I mean things love to pretend that being very, What’s the word, promiscuous is an excuse to kill babies, but it’s not. Take responsibility for your sexual habits and don’t use murder to fix your mistake. Pinellas is red, I known it’s hard to here, but come November the tides will changes. Enjoy your baby killing protest they will not help…😆.

    • Edward Lyle

      July 2, 2022 at 4:17 pm

      My recent study of Pinellas’ political history shows that there are an awful lot of RINOs who have slipped into office there. Heck, y’all just let another Latavala – a family of progressives in-drag – walk right in to a county commission seat under the guise of being a Republican.

      You elected them… you deal with them…

  • Just a comment

    July 3, 2022 at 6:38 pm

    I am about what happened to the 2 Dollar breakfast sales and what time is it

Comments are closed.


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