Debbie Deland, President of FL NOW, said, “Floridians will not put up with this ban. It attacks all women and people who can get pregnant rights. Forcing pregnancy is un-American and overrides free will. It is scary to see a critical element of our democracy, the separation of church and state, blatantly ignored. Forcing one minority’s position on the majority is the beginning of autocracy. We are not a Christian nation. We are a nation of freedom of and from religion. We accept all religions, not just the Christian right. We have to recommit to the separation of church and state. Until we overturn this near-total abortion ban, many women will die, we will lose the majority of obstetricians in the state, we will make miscarriage a risk for prosecution, and we will force women into pregnancies they can’t afford or don’t want. Looking to 2024, we will take action to turn this around in FL. We will remain loud and never give up. We are in open rebellion against this racist and sexist ban. I never imagined that white men would take away women’s rights.”

Yesterday was sickening, and today’s news cuts even more profound. First, the Governor signed the near-total abortion ban. He did so at 11 pm while we were asleep, ignoring how cruel and unpopular this bill is with the public. DeSantis’s hubris knows no limit: not only has he presented like an autocrat for months, but he is also a coward.

Despite this bill being fast-tracked through the legislature and signed into law, ABORTION IS STILL LEGAL in Florida for up to 15 weeks. It will remain so until the Florida Supreme Court rules on a challenge to the 15-week ban, which is expected sometime this summer.