Ohioans march for abortion rights, praise judge's ruling to block six-week ban

Exactly one month until the election and a day after an Ohio judge blocked the state’s six-week abortion ban, a few hundred protesters marched around the Ohio Statehouse advocating for abortion rights.

“O-H! I-O! Abortion bans have got to go!”

“Abortion is health care.”

“Not the church, not the state, the people must decide their fate!” rang out Saturday afternoon on South Third and High and East Broad and State streets.

A handful of speakers, including two women running on the Nov. 8 ballot, spoke up during the rally before the march.

“Over the years, I have seen too many restrictions on women’s health and their access to care,” said Dr. Anita Somani, the Democratic candidate for Ohio’s 11th House District. “We all know that politics do not belong in the exam room.”

She referenced the 10-year-old Columbus girl who went to Indianapolis to receive an abortion and other young girls who have also had to cross state lines to get an abortion.

“What about the girls who don’t have support or are afraid to share their stories?” Somani asked.

She praised the temporary block of Ohio’s six-week abortion ban but gave a warning.

“You can bet if the Republicans win the Ohio Supreme Court and the governor’s race, they will once again ban abortion at six weeks,” Somani said.

Hamilton County judge indefinitely blocks Ohio abortion law

On Friday, Hamilton County Common Pleas Court Judge Christian Jenkins, a Democrat, granted a preliminary injunction to block Ohio’s law, which bans doctors from performing abortions after cardiac activity is detected, about six weeks into a pregnancy. The law was in place for about three months after the U.S. Supreme Court overturned abortion protections in Roe v. Wade.

The ruling means abortion will be legal in Ohio until 20 weeks post-fertilization or 21 weeks, six days after the person's last period. Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost, a Republican, is expected to appeal.

"We are saddened yet not surprised by this so-called decision," Ohio Right to Life President Mike Gonidakis said. "The abortion clinics literally forum-shopped to get the outcome they wanted. This is a moment in time for the pro-life movement and we are convinced that the Ohio Supreme Court will overturn this ruling."

State Rep. Jeffrey A. Crossman, D-Parma, the Democratic nominee for Ohio attorney general, praised Jenkins’ decision.

“As Ohio’s next attorney general, I will dismiss this appeal and confirm once and for all the constitutionality of all women’s reproductive rights and abortion care in this state,” he said.

In June, the U.S. Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade, leaving abortion access up to state officials. Hours later, Ohio's 2019 law banning abortions as early as six weeks into pregnancy took effect.

Democratic Ohio governor candidate Nan Whaley unable to attend rally

Nan Whaley, the Democratic nominee for Ohio governor, was scheduled to speak at Saturday’s rally, but she got stuck in traffic and was unable to attend the rally. She is running against Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine.

Ohioans remain deeply divided on when abortion should be permitted. About 68% of likely Ohio voters said they would oppose a ban on abortion after fetal cardiac activity is detected, usually around six weeks, according to a recent USA TODAY Network Ohio/Suffolk University poll. And 84% supported exceptions for victims of rape or incest.

Earlier this week, Ohioans who opposed abortion rallied at the Statehouse and marched through the streets of Columbus.

Tamie Wilson, the Democratic candidate for Ohio’s 4th House District, criticized abortion bans at Saturday's rally.

“It’s not about killing babies,” she said. “If they really cared about keeping babies alive they would feed them, they would give them healthcare, they would give them a good education and they refuse to do all of that.”

On Sept. 30, DeWine asked state lawmakers to eliminate the sales tax on diapers, raise Medicaid's income limit for pregnant women and extend the paid maternity leave for state employees from six weeks to 12 weeks in an effort to make Ohio "the best place in the nation to have a baby and raise a family."

The governor's spokesperson said DeWine would pitch these ideas even if Ohio Republicans weren't planning to pass a full ban on abortion, but Democrats didn't buy it, saying they introduced similar bills for years without success.

A handful of pro-life protestors from Created Equal, a Columbus-based anti-abortion organization, also showed up to Saturday's Statehouse rally in opposition.

USA TODAY Network Ohio Bureau reporters Jessie Balmert and Anna Staver contributed to this report.

@megankhenry

mhenry@dispatch.com

This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Ohio protesters march for abortion rights around Statehouse