Volusia, Flagler react to overturn of Roe v. Wade abortion protection: Pledges and protests

The Supreme Court's vote to overturn Roe v. Wade, ending 50 years of constitutional protection for legal abortions, brought adulation and disdain from all corners of Volusia and Flagler counties. But one man's view arguably weighs more than others.

State Rep. Paul Renner, who has been voted by fellow Republicans as the incoming Florida House speaker, will have much say in how the state responds to the Dobbs v. Jackson Women's Health Organization ruling, which gives states the authority to ban abortion. Along with the governor and the Senate president, the House speaker typically has the most power to make laws.

At least 13 states have "trigger" laws that will enact abortion bans within 30 days. More states are expected to follow suit. Florida might be one.

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Renner, who is seeking his fourth full term as a state representative, has consistently voted in favor of pro-life legislation, including a bill this year restricting legal abortions to the first 15 weeks of a woman's pregnancy. And here is what he had to say in a tweet on Friday:

"Today’s U.S. Supreme Court decision rightfully returns the debate on protecting life back to the states where it belongs. The Florida Legislature has made significant strides towards protecting the unborn and will continue to pursue legislation that honors the sanctity of life," Renner wrote.

He will have allies from the all-Republican Volusia-Flagler delegation.

Those lawmakers are also aware of public-opinion polling, including one from Pew Research, showing greater support for legal abortion (56%) than a ban. All state House and Senate seats are on Florida ballots on Aug. 23 and Nov. 8.

They will also have to contend with a provision in the Florida Constitution protecting individuals' rights to privacy.

Abortion rights supporters protest in Flagler County

Some of the area's Democrats and other supporters of a woman's right to choose a legal abortion organized a rally in Flagler County Saturday afternoon.

Sally Hirst, president of the Flagler Beach Democratic Club, said a previous women's march in Flagler County drew about 300 opponents of the previously leaked Supreme Court draft opinion overturning Roe. She said the outrage she and others feel justify the "Bans Off Our Bodies" demonstration, which took place at 4 p.m. Saturday at Veterans Park, 101 N. Ocean Shore Blvd., Flagler Beach.

Along the intersection of State Roads 100 and A1A, roughly 100 pro-choice demonstrators waved homemade placards emblazoned with messages such as "My body, my choice" and "We will not go back!"

The effort was greeted by the occasional appreciative honking car horn from passing motorists.

At the same time, it also attracted at least one anti-abortion advocate, who waved his own sign, "Sleepy Joe Has to Go!"

For pro-choice participants such as Barbara Kipnis, 79, of Palm Coast, the motivation was to ensure future rights for her granddaughter.

"I'm disgusted" by the Supreme Court's decision, said Kipnis, adorned in a T-shirt bearing the letters "WWRBGD?" for "What Would Ruth Bader Ginsburg Do."

However, she also conceded that it would take more than sign-waving to make change happen.

"I don't think anything comes out of marches and rallies," she said. "We have to get grassroots people voting pro-choice."

For another demonstrator, the impact of the Supreme Court's decision stretched beyond the abortion issue.

"They are trying to take all our freedoms away," said Steve Lowe, 67, of Bunnell.

"I'm not in favor of abortion particularly myself, but I don't have the right to tell someone else what to do with their body," Lowe said. "That's between them and their God."

Hirst agreed that overturning Roe v. Wade extended beyond abortion.

"It's about privacy. It's about women's health. And it's about women's choice," Hirst said Saturday morning. "We talk about abortion, but really, it gives permission to the states to be completely invasive about women's health, and I just think leaving it with a woman to choose is the appropriate choice."

Some Democrats sounded alarmed that the Dobbs decision could bring a cascade of other restrictions.

"The right to privacy is in a state of emergency," Susanne Raines, Democratic state committeewoman for Volusia County, wrote in a text Friday. "Justice Clarence Thomas wrote today that overturning Roe v. Wade should be a first step toward banning birth control, marriage equality and worse. People may show their outrage at rallies, but the most important thing they can do is show their outrage at the polls. With their VOTES."

Staff writer Jim Abbott contributed to this story.

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This article originally appeared on The Daytona Beach News-Journal: Volusia, Flagler counties react to Supreme Court Roe vs Wade decision