Activists push back as Manatee County officials plan to celebrate end of Roe v. Wade
Local activists are pushing back against the Manatee County Commission’s plan to celebrate the end of the landmark Roe v. Wade ruling that established the right to abortion.
The Manatee County Board of County Commissioners will vote Tuesday on a proclamation that marks July 26, 2022, as “Victory for Life Day.” The proclamation thanks the U.S. Supreme Court for righting “past wrongs” and applauds politicians and judges for voting in support of abortion restrictions.
“These elected leaders and countless grassroots right-to-life activists and organizations contributed to the defense of the unalienable rights of life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness of the unborn by supporting pro-life justices and legislation,” the proclamation reads.
Women’s Voices of Southwest Florida, a local activist group formed in response to Commission James Satcher’s 2021 proposal to ban abortion clinics in Manatee County, emailed board members Friday to criticize the proclamation.
“This short-sighted display of political grandstanding is a slap in the face to the majority of your constituents,” the group wrote.
A sit-in protest is also planned for Tuesday’s public commission meeting. In a Facebook event, Women’s Voice of Southwest Florida invited residents to speak during the comment period at the meeting.
The 1973 Roe v. Wade ruling protected the constitutional right to an abortion. In June, the Supreme Court voted to overturn that decision and allow each state to determine its own abortion policy.
Last summer, Satcher, who campaigned on an anti-abortion platform, sought to make Manatee the first Florida county to prevent new abortion clinics from being built, but the proposal failed to move forward after legal review. Gov. Ron DeSantis signed a 2022 bill into law that bans abortion after 15 weeks.
“Life is a sacred gift worthy of our protection, and I am proud to sign this great piece of legislation which represents the most significant protections for life in the state’s modern history,” DeSantis said at the time.
Tuesday’s meeting begins at 8:30 a.m. at the Manatee County Administration Building, 1112 Manatee Ave. W., Bradenton.
