Florida had been a vacation spot for folks within the Deep South to get abortions, however on Might first a six-week abortion ban goes into impact there, making the area probably the most restrictive for the process.
AILSA CHANG, HOST:
First to Florida, the place a six-week abortion ban will go into impact on Might 1. That may have repercussions throughout the Deep South, the place many states have already banned or restricted the process. As Rosemary Westwood from member station WWNO reviews, the South is about to change into probably the most restrictive area within the nation for abortion entry.
ROSEMARY WESTWOOD, BYLINE: Florida has lengthy been a key hub for folks looking for abortions within the South. Chasity Wilson is the chief director of the Louisiana Abortion Fund, which helps ladies get to clinics in different states.
CHASITY WILSON: I can actually say Florida was a saving grace.
WESTWOOD: Florida is likely one of the prime states for abortion entry. Clinics there carried out over 80,000 final yr, in line with a state well being company. And lots of sufferers are from neighboring states, says Wilson.
WILSON: Numerous our folks wished to remain within the South and wished to remain what they thought-about near residence or at the least a well-known place.
WESTWOOD: After Roe v. Wade was overturned in 2022, Florida turned a vacation spot for folks wanting abortions within the Deep South because the majority of close by states restricted most abortions virtually instantly. Kendra Smith Parks with Deliberate Parenthood Gulf Coast says they’ve helped many individuals from Texas and Louisiana get abortions in states like Florida.
KENDRA SMITH PARKS: We had a affected person in ICE custody who had been trafficked. We had a affected person on the run from their abusive associate. A affected person of very restricted sources survived rape and incest and wanted to finish her being pregnant.
WESTWOOD: And in Mississippi, Michelle Colon helps folks discover authorized abortions. She says everybody who would have traveled to Florida will now burden clinics within the remaining states with broad entry – locations like California and New York.
MICHELLE COLON: It is simply this snowball impact, and all it is doing is that it is being exacerbated by these steady ongoing bans on abortion entry.
WESTWOOD: Colon mentioned Florida’s ban may have one other clear consequence.
COLON: Not all people can go to Illinois. Not all people’s going to have the ability to make it to Virginia. It implies that they are going to almost certainly be pressured to change into a mum or dad, endure a being pregnant and childbirth in opposition to their will.
WESTWOOD: However Florida’s ban is welcome information for opponents of abortion rights within the South. Jameson Taylor helped move Mississippi’s ban.
JAMESON TAYLOR: I do not suppose abortion is an excellent type of well being care that serves ladies. And so, you recognize, if increasingly states in our space are transferring to make abortion unlawful or to limit abortion, I see that as factor.
WESTWOOD: With out Florida, abortions may get dearer for a lot of touring from the South. Already, the associated fee will be into the 1000’s. Wilson with the Louisiana Abortion Fund says her group gave away over $1 million final yr to purchasers to cowl clinic charges, plus…
WILSON: Meals, gasoline, childcare stipend, bus ticket, airplane ticket, rental automotive, no matter sensible wants you want.
WESTWOOD: She says even that is not sufficient to assist everybody who calls as a result of their weekly allotment is proscribed.
WILSON: Sometimes, today, we’re working out of funds by Wednesday on any given week. Even when we aren’t capable of fund you instantly, I might be damned if we’re not, you recognize, on the telephones, contacting companions, attempting to determine what we will do.
WESTWOOD: Individuals throughout the Deep South will nonetheless have the choice to get round state bans by ordering abortion drugs on-line. And this November, Florida voters will resolve whether or not so as to add abortion rights to the state Structure. For NPR Information, I am Rosemary Westwood in New Orleans.
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