TAMPA, Fla. — The Supreme Court’s decision to overturn Roe – which changes the rules around a woman’s ability to have an abortion, has sparked a conversation.

What You Need To Know

  • Roe v. Wade was recently overturned

  • The decision allowed states to determine abortion law within their own borders

  • Many are debating the pros and cons

“The thing that’s important to understand is all of this is in flux right now,” said Attorney Josh Sheridan. “I don’t think this will be the last case the Supreme Court hears on this. The makeup of the Supreme Court is favorable to that sort of ruling but I think this will be a big topic on the state and federal level for midterms and the election in 2024.”

The discussion about abortion has been a controversial topic for years. So, as rules reducing the options to purchase Plan B pills surfaced, the conversation started anew.

“Steven Andrew Jacobs did a paper in 2018,” said Eric McEwan, a pastor at New Creation Church in St. Pete. “He did a sample of over 5,500 biologists and he had one question for these folks and that was, 'When did human life begin?' Over 95% of biologists say life begins at conception, fertilization.”

McEwan said he and his congregation stand on their belief that abortion is wrong, adding his thoughts on women who become pregnant after being raped.

“Rape is a capital crime and they should be punished but don’t think the answer in a rape is to also have a violent act against the child who didn’t ask to be born,” said McEwan.  

In the state of Florida, one can’t have an abortion after 15 weeks, which is something Jennifer De Jesus of Tampa said, violates her constitutional rights.

“What’s happened recently with the SCOTUS decision was heartbreaking, as a birthing person and as a Black woman specifically I feel I should be trusted,” said De Jesus.  

De Jesus said that she feels women should have the right to choose what happens with their own bodies.

“The Florida constitution allows us the right to privacy and the 15th week abortion ban that started here in Florida is in conflict with that right,” said De Jesus. “The SCOTUS decision compounding on top of that making it restricted, is a travesty.”

Abortion will be a big topic heading into the primaries.

Abortion and equal rights are big topics for women voters in the state of Florida and one that could be a deciding factor in several key races.