Protesters Descend On Indiana Statehouse As Abortion-Banning Process Begins

Both opponents and supporters of abortion rights gathered to protest at the Indiana statehouse on Monday as legislators assembled for a special session on banning the procedure.

The session, which may last several weeks, will give Senate Republicans a chance to introduce a bill prohibiting abortion with few exceptions. If theyre successful, Indiana will join about a dozen other states that have banned the procedure, with many more expected to follow now that the U.S. Supreme Court has overturned Roe v. Wade .

Journalists present for the session said protests in the Capitol rotunda were so loud they could be heard inside the Senate chamber, where the floors and walls were reportedly shaking from people stomping their feet.

The demonstrations took over all three floors of the rotunda, with competing chants of My body, my choice and Not your body, not your choice booming throughout the building, reporters said. Nearly 300 people are signed up to deliver public comment.

Dueling chants happening in the rotunda. My body my choice Not your body not your choice abortion is healthcare. We wont go back and some people are singing Amazing Grace. @WTHRcom #AbortionBan #indiana #AbortionRights pic.twitter.com/7OCY23UN5d

Cierra Putman WTHR (@CierraReporter) July 25, 2022","type":"rich","meta":{"author":"Cierra Putman WTHR","author_url":"https://twitter.com/CierraReporter","cache_age":86400,"description":"Dueling chants happening in the rotunda. My body my choice Not your body not your choice abortion is healthcare. 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Dueling chants happening in the rotunda. My body my choice Not your body not your choice abortion is healthcare. We wont go back and some people are singing Amazing Grace. @WTHRcom #AbortionBan #indiana #AbortionRights pic.twitter.com/7OCY23UN5d
Cierra Putman WTHR (@CierraReporter) July 25, 2022

The current text of the legislation, authored by Republican state Sen. Sue Glick, would ban abortion except in cases of rape, incest or to save the life of the mother. Experts have pointed out that such life-saving exceptions are poorly defined , confusing for doctors and could lead to pregnant people being put at unnecessary medical risk.

When pressed by Democrats on Monday as to why the bill doesnt include a clearer exception for abortion based on the pregnant persons physical health, Glick said the bills sponsors are planning to tighten up that language.

Glick added that as lawmakers propose amendments to the bill throughout the special session, her party will likely add language limiting the window of time when victims of rape and incest may seek an abortion.

One of the first speakers during the public comment period was Dr. Mary Ott, a pediatrician testifying against the bill on behalf of the American Academy of Pediatrics Indiana chapter. She argued that lowering abortion rates in Indiana should be done through better sex education and access to contraceptives, not by banning a procedure that should be a private decision.

Dr. Mary Abernathy from the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists followed shortly after, warning lawmakers that the law would disproportionately affect low-income women of color while more affluent white women could afford to travel out of state for abortions.

Some of the commenters in support of ending abortion access said they were unhappy with the bills rape and incest exceptions.