In 2022, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis (R) signed into law House Bill 5, the legislative measure that ensures a 15-week abortion ban that has been championed by pro-Life Floridians and state Republican lawmakers. Democrats like Florida Rep. Anna V. Eskamani (D) have called the bill an effort of stripping Floridians' rights away.
This week, Rep. Eskamani gave an update on the battle against HB 5, saying that the "FL Supreme Court accepted a request by abortion providers to hear arguments in their case against HB5, but the justices declined to block HB5 while the lawsuit proceeds, leaving the ban in place."
FL Supreme Court accepted a request by abortion providers to hear arguments in their case against HB5, but the justices declined to block HB5 while the lawsuit proceeds, leaving the ban in place. The court will schedule oral arguments in a separate order. My statement is below. pic.twitter.com/BY59MINO9p
— Rep. Anna V. Eskamani 🔨 (@AnnaForFlorida) January 24, 2023
Because of this, Rep. Eskamani warns that Floridians' rights continue to be threatened.
In a statement, Eskamani expressed that the "15 week ban was already deemed unconstitutional by a federal judge and yet the people of Florida continue to have their rights stripped away from us."
"The impact of this law has been devastating and has forced people to leave the state for abortion care," stated Eskamani, calling it "inhumane, un-American and the opposite of freedom."
As a result, Eskamani vowed to "continue to fight for reproductive freedom and bodily autonomy no matter what."
Eskamani further shared that while the courts are not completely closing "their door" on the discussion, "it is disappointing to allow House Bill 5 to remain in effect."
"The court will schedule oral arguments in a separate order," she added.
Democrats and Republicans have long battled over abortions, and the discussion culminated in the Supreme Court overturning Roe v. Wade last year. Last weekend marked the 50th anniversary of the ruling, and Rep. Eskamani did what she does best— organize protests in Orlando.
Democrats across the country took to the streets to protest the landmark abortion decision being overturned and to champion the ruling to maintain bodily autonomy.
Since the ruling was overturned, Democrats have warned that states will continue to move toward outright banning abortions.
