Protestors pack Iowa statehouse as lawmakers debate abortion restrictions

OF THINGS? YEAH, ONCE THE HOUSE PASSED THIS BILL, A LOT OF THE PROTESTERS FROM THAT CHAMBER CROSSED THE STATE HOUSE OVER TO THE SENATE CHAMBER. AND I RECOGNIZED A HANDFUL OF PEOPLE IN THERE THAT HAVE BEEN HERE SINCE THE MORNING WHEN THIS ROTUNDA WAS PACKED WITH PROTESTS. BOIES IT LOOKS PRETTY EMPTY RIGHT NOW, BUT THIS MORNING IT WAS FILLED WITH EMOTION. TENSIONS WERE HIGH. AND, YOU KNOW, ANOTHER THING THAT’S THAT’S HERE TO MENTION, IT JUST SHOWS HOW STRONGLY PEOPLE FEEL ABOUT THIS BILL, THE FACT THAT THEY’RE WILLING TO WAIT AS LONG AS LAWMAKERS WILL BE HERE AT THE STATE HOUSE. AGAIN, THAT COULD BE AS LATE AS 11 P.M. ABORTION TOOK CENTER STAGE AT THE STATE HOUSE TUESDAY. IT WAS THE NUMBER ONE ISSUE ON THE MIND OF IOWANS GATHERED HERE. IT SHOULD BE THE RIGHT OF EVERY WOMAN TO DECIDE HER HEALTH CARE. WE WILL NOT BACK DOWN. PROTESTERS CROWDED THE HALLS OF THE STATE HOUSE IN THE MORNING, FILLING THE ROTUNDA WITH SIGNS AND SOUNDS BEHIND CLOSED DOORS. PEOPLE FOR AND AGAINST ABORTION MADE THEIR VOICES HEARD DURING A PUBLIC HEARING. SO I WANT TO REMIND EVERYONE THAT WE’RE NOT TALKING ABOUT SOMETHING WITH A HEARTBEAT. WE’RE TALKING ABOUT SOMEONE WITH A HEARTBEAT. AND I BELIEVE IN ABORTION, HEALTH CARE FOR ALL IOWANS. THE IMPACT OF THIS BILL IS UNJUST AND IMMORAL. OUTSIDE THE PUBLIC HEARING, PEOPLE BANGED ON THE DOORS AND DEMANDED TO SPEAK AS THE HOURS WENT ON THE HALLS OF THE STATE HOUSE CALMED DOWN BY FOUR. THE ROTUNDA WAS PRETTY MUCH EMPTY. SOME PROTESTERS STUCK AROUND FOR THE ENTIRE DAY, PROMISING TO SEE THEIR FIGHT TO THE END. NOW IS THE TIME THAT WE NEED TO MOVE FORWARD AFTER OUR SUPREME COURT RULING. I THINK THAT WE ARE VERY GRATEFUL THAT THE LEGISLATURE IS MOVING FORWARD WITH THIS SPECIAL SESSION BECAUSE THIS IS A LIFE AND DEATH SITUATION. PROTESTS OTHERS WHO STAYED LATE INTO THE AFTERNOON WATCH AS LAWMAKERS DEBATED THE BILL. I THINK IT’S IMPORTANT FOR THEM TO SEE WHO THEIR CONSTITUENTS ARE AND WHAT WE FEEL CARL AND MAKE SURE THEY KNOW OUR OPINIONS ABOUT THINGS. ABORTION IS A IS A PERSONAL DECISION AND CHOICE BETWEEN A FEMALE AND A DOCTOR, AND THAT IT’S HEALTH CARE, A REMINDER IT’S NOW THE SENATE’S TURN TO VOTE ON THIS BILL WITH JUST UNDER AN

Protestors carrying signs and chanting about reproductive rights filled the statehouse Tuesday morning as lawmakers met to discuss new abortion restrictions.Many were protesting what is being called the "fetal heartbeat bill." The bill would ban abortion once cardiac activity is detected, which doctors say happens around six weeks of pregnancy.Iowans weighed in on the proposed abortion ban during a public hearing that concluded at 11 a.m. Both viewpoints were represented during public comment, which lasted under two hours.People had to sign up beforehand to speak during the public hearing. Those who did not sign up to speak stood outside the room, banging on doors and chanting.But as the day went on, the crowd of protestors thinned out. By late afternoon, the rotunda of the statehouse was close to empty. Still, some protestors stuck around to see their fight to the end.Maggie DeWitte, executive director of Pulse Life Advocates, spoke in favor of the bill during the public hearing. She told KCCI she was planning on staying the entire day. "Now is the time when we need to move forward after our Supreme Court ruling. I think that we are very grateful that the legislature is moving forward with this special session because this is a life or death situation," DeWitte said.Laura Harman, who is against the bill, said she wanted to be at the statehouse as long as she could."I think it's important for them to see who their constituents are and what we feel and make sure they know our opinions about things," Harman said. "Abortion is a personal decision between a female and a doctor."As the night went on, protestors watched from the galleries of the House and Senate chambers as lawmakers debated the bill.The House passed the bill in a 56-34 vote shortly after 9 p.m. Tuesday.The bill then moved to the Senate, which passed the bill in a 32-17 vote at 11 p.m. Tuesday.The bill now goes to Gov. Kim Reynolds' desk. She is expected to sign the bill into law on Friday.More coverage: Iowa Legislature passes abortion restrictions, bill goes to governor's desk

DES MOINES, Iowa —

Protestors carrying signs and chanting about reproductive rights filled the statehouse Tuesday morning as lawmakers met to discuss new abortion restrictions.

Many were protesting what is being called the "fetal heartbeat bill." The bill would ban abortion once cardiac activity is detected, which doctors say happens around six weeks of pregnancy.

Iowans weighed in on the proposed abortion ban during a public hearing that concluded at 11 a.m. Both viewpoints were represented during public comment, which lasted under two hours.

People had to sign up beforehand to speak during the public hearing. Those who did not sign up to speak stood outside the room, banging on doors and chanting.

But as the day went on, the crowd of protestors thinned out. By late afternoon, the rotunda of the statehouse was close to empty. Still, some protestors stuck around to see their fight to the end.

Maggie DeWitte, executive director of Pulse Life Advocates, spoke in favor of the bill during the public hearing. She told KCCI she was planning on staying the entire day.

"Now is the time when we need to move forward after our Supreme Court ruling. I think that we are very grateful that the legislature is moving forward with this special session because this is a life or death situation," DeWitte said.

Laura Harman, who is against the bill, said she wanted to be at the statehouse as long as she could.

"I think it's important for them to see who their constituents are and what we feel and make sure they know our opinions about things," Harman said. "Abortion is a personal decision between a female and a doctor."

As the night went on, protestors watched from the galleries of the House and Senate chambers as lawmakers debated the bill.

The House passed the bill in a 56-34 vote shortly after 9 p.m. Tuesday.

The bill then moved to the Senate, which passed the bill in a 32-17 vote at 11 p.m. Tuesday.

The bill now goes to Gov. Kim Reynolds' desk. She is expected to sign the bill into law on Friday.

More coverage: Iowa Legislature passes abortion restrictions, bill goes to governor's desk

Protestors pack Iowa statehouse as lawmakers debate abortion restrictions

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