FLORIDA — The issue of abortion and the historic Roe v. Wade case took center stage in Florida and around the nation Tuesday after a leaked draft opinion indicated that the Supreme Court plans to overturn the 1973 ruling.
MORE HEADLINES ABOUT ROE V. WADE
- Leaked draft opinion shows Supreme Court may overturn Roe v. Wade
- Florida lawmakers respond to leaked draft opinion overturning Roe v. Wade
- Report of abortion opinion stirs outrage from Dems, measured applause from Republicans
- Interview: Law Professor Louis Virelli talks Roe v. Wade, Florida Constitution
- Interview: Florida Law Professor Seema Mohapatra discusses significance of Roe V. Wade draft opinion
Spectrum News caught up with anti-abortion and abortion-rights advocates to get their reaction to everything that’s happened in the last 24 hours – and those on both sides had plenty to say.
'I THANK GOD EVERYDAY FOR MY CHILDREN'
In front of an abortion clinic in Seminole County, those against abortions said the fight for what they believe isn’t over.
Michele Herzog grabbed signs and joined other anti-abortion advocates in front of a clinic in Seminole County to fight for something she’s been fighting for several decades.
She hopes she can save a life.
“These little babies have no voice but ours, and it is a last-ditch effort to really try to save their lives,” Herzog said.
Herzog had an abortion when she was in her early twenties. She said she didn’t have access to talk with someone who could explain different alternatives and wants to save other women from going through what she did.
“I was never the same person, and I looked up at the sky and said, ‘I’ll never ever do this again,’” she said. “But it affected my life in such a drastic way – from that moment on I was never the same way and I really didn’t care about living anymore.”
She now enjoys looking at pictures of her family. She says religion helped saved her and helped her turn her life around. She ended up having four children and some grandchildren.
“I thank God every day for my children – I consider them a miracle, a miracle – I actually never thought I could have children.”
Herzog said she is thankful there's a major indication the nation’s highest court could reverse Roe v. Wade and make abortions illegal.
“Tears rolled down my cheek – I never thought I’d see this day before I died,” she said. “I’ve prayed, Lord let me see the day. But maybe there’s a possibility that before I leave this earth I may see children protected and have their rights restored.”
She said even with a reversal of Roe v. Wade, she acknowledges there could still be legal obstacles in Florida to making all abortions illegal. She believes life begins at conception.
AFRAID OF WHAT'S TO COME: "IT'S REALLY SCARY"
Meanwhile, organizers of a Tuesday protest in St. Petersburg said overturning Roe v. Wade could have dangerous impacts for women everywhere.
Rep. Michelle Rayner and abortion-rights supporters met to speak out against the opinion in those leaked documents. They called the talks of overturning Roe v Wade a political tool that’s been used for decades.
But it’s a real possibility and it has some doctors afraid for what’s to come.
“I actually had a pretty visceral reaction to it,” said Dr. Robyn Schickler of Planned Parenthood. “Not necessarily shock because we were anticipating this possibly happening, but just this horrible, sinking feeling and you know just this rage that this even happened.”
Schickler practices at Planned Parenthood locations serving people of southwest and Central Florida.
She says there are so many reasons why people choose to have abortions. She’s just hoping it doesn’t become as dangerous as many medical professionals fear.
“It’s really scary,” she said. “It’s really scary to think that the politicians think that this is just going to stop abortions. It’s not. It’s gonna happen, it’s just not gonna happen in our safe medical clinics anymore."
“I think people who can get pregnant, if they find themselves pregnant and they don’t want to be or they cannot, desperate people will do desperate things, they will try to self-induce an abortion," she added.
Schickler said while the future of safe and medically performed abortions may look bleak, they still have hope. She said it’s going to take hard work from those who support abortion rights and patience.
In the meantime she said they’re following the current federal and state law until Florida’s abortion ban goes into effect in July.