Politics & Government

Protest Held In Rockville To Protest Alabama's Abortion Ban

Abortion-rights activists and local leaders gathered in Rockville on Tuesday to protest Alabama's near-total abortion ban.

Rockville's rally was one of 400 protests held across the country in opposition of Alabama's abortion law.
Rockville's rally was one of 400 protests held across the country in opposition of Alabama's abortion law. (Astrid Riecken/Getty Images)

ROCKVILLE, MD — Supporters of abortion rights and local leaders gathered in front of the Montgomery County Council building in Rockville Tuesday, protesting the near-total abortion ban Alabama recently passed.

The rally in Rockville was one of more than 400 "Stop the Bans" protests held Tuesday across the country in opposition of Alabama's abortion law. The"Human Life Protection Act" bans doctors from performing abortions on women "except in cases where abortion is necessary in order to prevent a serious health risk to the unborn child's mother," according to the bill's text.

Doctors who break the law can face up to 99 years in prison.

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"You would think by now we would not be having the same conversation we've been having for years," said Gaithersburg City Council member Laurie-Ann Sayles, according to Bethesda Beat.

The magazine reported that more than 170 people attended the rally in Rockville. A handful of local leaders, including Rockville Mayor Bridget Donnell Newton and Council member Beryl Feinberg, were also in attendance.

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"I think this could be a galvanizing issue for the 2020 election, because now it's now it's not the right for women to make choices, it's taking away that right that has been earned in the Supreme Court," Feinberg said, per the outlet.

Supporters of abortion rights who attended Rockville's rally believe it's important to fight for other people's rights across the country.

"Just because abortion is safe and legal in Maryland, we still care about people's rights in other places. So I feel like it's our duty to advocate for people in other places who maybe don't have the same leverage," said Renee Deboard-Lucas, a volunteer with Planned Parenthood, according to Bethesda Beat.

Alabama isn't the only state trying to severely limit abortions. States like Missouri and Georgia have also recently passed similar bills.

"In total, at least 15 states have voted to ban abortion in just the past five months," said Karen Nelson, CEO of Planned Parenthood Advocates for D.C., Maryland, and Northern Virginia. "It is a coordinated, aggressive and horrifying agenda to ban abortion and overturn Roe v. Wade. And it is in defiance of the American people, whose support for safe and legal abortion is at an all-time high — nearly 73 percent."


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