Three reproductive rights activists who were charged last month for their actions during a January protest at the Respect Life Mass at St. Joseph Cathedral Downtown were arraigned on Friday.
The misdemeanor charges filed Feb. 18 in Franklin County Municipal Court against Jordyn Close, 24; Michelle M. Davis, 39; and Mason Hickman, 24 include disorderly conduct and criminal trespass. All pleaded not guilty on Friday morning and are scheduled for pretrial hearings in March and April.
Anne Morrice, 35, who faces these misdemeanors. as well as a charge for criminal damage, will be arraigned on March 19.
The four charged were part of a group of eight activists who stormed into the cathedral during its morning Mass on Jan. 22. At the time, no arrests were made, said George Jones, spokesman for the Roman Catholic Diocese of Columbus.
It’s unbelievable in any given year, especially now that we’re still in this pandemic, that this is what they choose to spend taxpayer money on, said Democratic state Representative Athena Salman. The ones that are most egregious that could lead to potential boycotts of Arizona like it has in other states are the measures that are in the Senate right now.
On February 24, the Senate passed SB 1254, which would force state health officials to ban organizations that counsel, refer, perform, induce, prescribe or provide abortions from an online list of pregnancy services available for women.
Earlier today, the Senate also passed one of the more closely watched bills, SB 1457. The sweeping legislation would give fetuses the same rights as children and adults, ban public agencies from contracting with abortion providers or affiliates, and prohibit public-education institutions from providing referrals for abortions or pro-abortion counseling. The bill would also criminalize t
Anti-abortion constitutional proposal advances in Kentucky lmtonline.com - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from lmtonline.com Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
Although the legislation will allow insurers to provide these services, it will not require them to do so.
The current restriction on abortion coverage through Virginia’s health insurance exchange was put in place in 2011 during Republican Gov. Robert McDonnell’s administration after the Affordable Care Act was passed. Federal funds can’t cover abortion costs due to the Hyde Amendment, except for specific circumstances.
“The current ban on providing abortion care for private insurance companies does nothing to promote or protect the health and safety of anyone it’s purely politically based,” said Rae Pickett, communications director for Planned Parenthood Advocates of Virginia.
Stop the attack on LGBTQ people in our state helenair.com - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from helenair.com Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.