MILWAUKEE — In response to Donald Trump winning the presidential election and over concerns about potential upcoming restrictions to abortion access, roughly 280 protesters took to the streets to express that reproductive rights are human rights.
Reproductive rights, like abortion and contraception rights, were a major focus during the race for the White House.
Trump said he believes states should create their own abortion policies, but his position on the issue was not consistent. In an interview on WABC radio, he suggested he was open to a national abortion ban after 15 weeks of pregnancy with exceptions of rape, incest or when the life of the pregnant parent is in danger.
In his presidency back in 2016, Trump supported a nationwide abortion ban after 20 weeks, but it never made it to the White House after Senate Democrats killed the bill with a filibuster.
Protesters, led by Reproductive Justice Action Milwaukee (RJAM), marched downtown Saturday chanting, "Keep abortion safe and legal."
According to a release by RJAM, the demonstration was to show elected officials they "will not sit back and be idle." Organizers said they will be proactive in combating "attacks" on Wisconsinites' access to healthcare, choice, and autonomy.
Vice President Kamala Harris campaigned with a different view on abortions. Before the end of the election, she promised to create federal protections for abortion that were first established under Roe v. Wade, if elected. She also said she would protect abortion access until the fetus is viable, which is typically around 23 to 24 weeks.
Access to abortion is not a new concern for voters, and the right has been taken away before in Wisconsin.
Abortion providers in the Dairy State stopped abortion services in 2022 after Roe v. Wade was overturned by the United States Supreme Court. The organizations cited a state law enacted in 1849.
In September of 2023, a Dane County judge ruled the pre-Civil War law did not apply to consensual abortions but rather governed feticide. This would be if someone attacked a pregnant person and killed the fetus. Planned Parenthood of Wisconsin resumed abortion services after the ruling.
Currently, Planned Parenthood is Wisconsin's only abortion provider, and they have two locations providing such services: the Water Street Health Center in Milwaukee, and the Madison East Health Center.
During the 15-month period after Roe v. Wade was overturned and before the Dane County judge's ruling, no legal abortions took place in Wisconsin.
Wisconsin does have abortion restrictions, which include a 20-week abortion ban. Other restrictions exist, like a mandatory 24-hour waiting period after meeting with a doctor before a patient can be given medication or have a procedure and the physician must be present when the medication is taken. Providers also must give the patient an ultrasound and literature including images and descriptions of fetal development.
There are not currently any bills in front of the state legislature that aim to limit access to abortion; however, on Monday, Nov. 11 the Wisconsin Supreme Court will hear arguments in the case that asks if the 1849 law does in fact ban abortion and if the state Constitution protects it.
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