MONTPELIER – Hundreds of Vermonters gathered in front of the State House on Tuesday to protest anti-abortion legislation passed in Alabama, Georgia and several other states.
The gathering was one of dozens of nationwide #StopTheBans rallies, and it happened a day after Gov. Phil Scott’s office said he will not veto H.57, a bill that protects access to abortion in Vermont.
Lucy Leriche, who served as the Vermont Senate Majority Leader from 2011-2013, is now vice president of Vermont public policy for Planned Parenthood Northern New England. She said she was pleased that legislators were able to push through H.57, but mostly relieved.
“For all of the Vermont people who need access to quality healthcare, knowing H.57 will become the law of the land and that healthcare and abortion care will be protected in Vermont is critically important,” Leriche said.
While Vermont is set to protect abortion, states like Alabama and Georgia are exploring legislation that would restrict it. James Lyall, Executive Director of the ACLU of Vermont, said that’s why it’s critical that Vermonters speak out.
“Those efforts do not reflect the values of a majority of Vermonters, and don’t reflect the values of the majority of the American people,” Lyall said. “That’s why people are turning out today across the country to protest the abortion bans and that’s why it’s so important that Vermont has taken these measures moving in the opposite direction.”
Some are concerned that the anti-abortion legislation could eventually go to the U.S. Supreme Court and challenge Roe v. Wade, which has been in place for 46 years. Meagan Gallagher, President & C.E.O. of Planned Parenthood Northern New England, warned that pro-life lawmakers are closer than they’ve ever been to that reality.
“Attempts at banning abortion are nothing new, and the flood of bills this year are no coincidence,” Gallagher said. “With President Trump in the White House and Brett Kavanaugh on the Supreme Court, anti-abortion extemists see this as their opportunity.”
Gov. Scott’s office didn’t say whether or not he plans to sign the bill, but since he will not veto it, H.57 will become law regardless.