On Monday, people gathered outside the Indiana statehouse to protest a near-total ban on abortion currently under consideration by legislators.
According to CBN News, the bill was introduced last week in light of the Supreme Court’s recent decision to overturn Roe v. Wade, which gives states the individual power to decide how abortion should be handled within their borders.
While abortion in Indiana is currently banned after 22 weeks of pregnancy, if passed, the bill would ban abortions altogether except for in cases of rape, incest or a medical emergency. Additionally, $45 million would be allocated to state agencies that support the health of pregnant women, postpartum mothers and infants.
The legislation also seeks to expand pregnancy planning and contraception, in which low-income families will be affected.
Protestors on both sides of the abortion issue held demonstrations outside the statehouse on Monday.
“We are just obedient to God. We’re supposed to stand up for those who can’t speak for themselves,” one woman said.
“We respect a woman’s right to make their own decisions based on their own beliefs,” another said.
State lawmakers have until August 14 to finalize the decision.
On Monday, Vice President Kamala Harris held a roundtable discussion in front of the press as she defended abortion.
“It should be that woman’s decision, not the government telling her what to do with her body and her life. No one has to give up their faith or their belief to agree the government should not tell somebody else what they should do,” she said.
Meanwhile, pro-life advocate Abby Johnson contended that the bill does not go far enough.
“There’s really no reason to have rape and incest exceptions. What women who’ve been traumatized by sexual assault need is not to be further traumatized by abortion. They need care and counsel,” Johnson said.
