Abortion rights activists staged a rally on the statehouse grounds today (Friday), vowing to sue if Governor Kim Reynolds signs a bill into law that would ban nearly all abortions in the state. Suzanna de Baca, president of Planned Parenthood of the Heartland said “Sources tell us that in the next 24 hours that is exactly what she plans to do and so I am here to tell Governor Reynolds: ‘We will see you in court.'”   The Republican-led legislature passed a bill banning abortions after a fetal heartbeat is detected, which happens around the sixth week of a pregnancy. Mark Stringer, executive director of the American Civil Liberties Union of Iowa, says this abortion ban would be the most restrictive in the country. “And if the governor does sign this bill, the ACLU of Iowa will be proud to be a part of the litigation team that will stand with Planned Parenthood of the Heartland as we sue,” he said.

Many of the Republican legislators who spoke in favor of the bill during House and Senate debate are anxious for the matter to go to court, too, hoping it will be the catalyst for overturning Roe v Wade, the 1972 Supreme Court decision that legalized abortion. Erin Davison-Rippey, director of Public Affairs for Planned Parenthood of the Heartland, was the lead-off speaker at today’s (Friday’s) rally. She says Planned Parenthood and its allies “will persist no matter what.”  “We will do whatever it takes to make sure that we protect the rights that our mothers, our grandmothers and our great-grandmothers have already won,” Davison-Rippey said.

Rally-goers also criticized a proposal that’s eligible for a vote in the House and Senate that would deny federal grants to Planned Parenthood sex ed programs for teenagers. Andi Grubb, director of education for Planned Parenthood of the Heartland, says “tens of the thousands” of Iowa teens take the courses. “We empower young people to determine their own values, to determine their own boundaries and to practice healthy communication and consent,” Grubb said. “In an era of #metoo, we need more of that, not less of that.” Grubbs says classes explain how to use contraceptives to avoid pregnancy and protection to avoid sexually-transmitted diseases. Abstinence is also discussed.”We answer questions honestly and we tell people it’s o.k. not to have sex until you’re ready,” Grubb said. “And, yes, as a leading source of reproductive and sexual health education, Planned Parenthood teaches safe sex.”

Critics say abortion providers have a “conflict of interest” and should not be involved in government-funded sex ed classes.

(Radio Iowa)