VP Harris to Criticize Trump and Florida's 6-Week Abortion Ban in Jacksonville Speech

Vice President Kamala Harris is set to deliver a speech in Jacksonville, Florida on May 3, 2024, where she is expected to criticize former President Donald Trump and the state's new six-week abortion ban. The restrictive law, known as the "Heartbeat Protection Act," took effect on May 1, replacing a less restrictive 15-week ban.

The Florida Supreme Court, which has shifted considerably conservative in recent years with five of the seven justices appointed by Governor Ron DeSantis, ruled that there is no right to an abortion under the state's privacy clause. The court also approved an abortion rights amendment to appear on the 2024 ballot, while simultaneously giving the green light to the six-week ban.

Abortion rights advocates have scrambled to prepare for the impact of Florida's new law, which they say is effectively a total ban, as six weeks gestation is before many women know they are pregnant. The law includes exceptions for victims of rape, incest, and human trafficking, as well as to save the life of the mother, but abortion rights supporters argue that these exceptions are impractical.

The passage of the six-week limit and the Supreme Court's decision to allow it to take effect were major victories for abortion opponents, but critics hope the law will help galvanize support for a ballot proposal to enshrine abortion rights in the state constitution.

Why this matters: Florida's new six-week abortion ban is expected to have a significant impact on abortion access in the Southeast, as the state had been a common access point for out-of-state patients seeking abortions. The Biden-Harris campaign has focused efforts on urging Florida voters to oppose Republican candidates who support limiting abortion access and calling for them to vote for the abortion rights amendment.

Vice President Harris' trip is part of the Biden administration's efforts to make abortion access a defining issue in the 2024 presidential race. The Biden campaign has been using Harris as their primary messenger on abortion, with the president himself previously blasting the pending Florida ban and connecting it to Trump. "Make no mistake: Republicans in Congress want to pass a national abortion ban," Biden said in a statement. "The choice in 2024 will be between those who want to take us backwards, and those who want to protect women's health and defend their rights."

Key Takeaways

• VP Harris to criticize Trump, FL's new 6-week abortion ban in May 2024 speech.
• FL Supreme Court ruled no state constitutional right to abortion, approved 6-week ban.
• Abortion rights advocates argue 6-week ban is effectively a total ban.
• FL's 6-week ban expected to significantly impact abortion access in the Southeast.
• Biden-Harris campaign urging FL voters to oppose GOP candidates limiting abortion.