Their signs called on lawmakers to let women make their own decisions and “Get politics out of health care.”
Their voices challenged what protesters said was the "hypocrisy" of a legislature that, on one hand, wants less government intervention in the lives of Americans but, at the same time, introduces a measure that opponents said would turn medical decisions over to politicians.
“I was a witness to the women’s movement in the 1960s and it amazes me that we are still at this, 60 years later - fighting for women’s freedom to make reproductive choices,” said Andrea Ahmed-Zaid, standing amid supporters, oposing a bill that would require women to undergo an ultrasound prior to having an abortion.
“Lawmakers continue to try and legislate choices that are personal and private and I’m tired of it,” said Ahmed-Zaid.
More than 200 opponents to Senate Bill 1349, also known as the ultrasound abortion bill, gathered on the Statehouse steps Thursday afternoon, spilling to the sidewalks, to voice outrage at what they called "an effort by narrow interests to limit safe and legal access to abortions."