Thousands of people across Florida – from Tallahassee to Tampa and Jacksonville to Miami – will rally to support reproductive rights on October 2.

In addition to marches in major cities across the state, rallies will be held in Fort Myers, West Palm Beach, Naples and Punta Gorda.

The marches are held in each state two days before the U.S. Supreme Court takes over for the October term.

The events were announced from September 2, the same day Texas’ new abortion law came into effect, banning abortions after six weeks and giving Texans the power to sue abortion providers.

The Supreme Court voted to keep the legislation by a 5-4 majority. Texas’ anti-abortion laws are now the most restrictive in the country.

The main organizer of the marches is Women’s March, a nonprofit organization led by women created for the first women’s march on January 21, 2017 and launched to protest the election of Donald Trump. On that date, approximately 300,000 people marched in Washington and dozens of other communities. A march last fall included a tribute to late Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg and a protest against Amy Coney Barrett’s appointment to the Supreme Court – an appointment that dissenters said posed a threat to Roe v. Wade, according to the Women’s March website.

The October 2 rally marks the first in-person women’s march to take place outside of Donald Trump’s presidency, and more than 90 other organizations are helping to organize national events.

In Manatee County, where county commissioners have asked the Florida attorney general for legal advice to ban abortion, the local Women’s March group held an 11 a.m. rally at 1112 Manatee Ave. W. in Bradenton.

The committee voted 4-3 to send a letter to Attorney General Ashley Moody. “The majority of the undersigned of the Manatee County Council of Commissioners, after careful consideration, wish to make Manatee County a ‘safe haven’ to develop children who are in their mother’s womb,” the letter said, according to reports. release of the Bradenton Herald.

“Therefore, we are asking you for legal advice on the best way to navigate a successful ‘Safe Haven’ order. We do not wish to compete with other legislative bodies pursuing the goal of protecting life in Florida, ”the letter continued. “It is our desire to be an encouragement to others in their efforts to be more effective than they would otherwise be.” There are no abortion clinics in Manatee County.

On September 2, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis said he could support passage of state law that would ban abortion when a fetal heartbeat can be detected. “I am pro-life. I welcome pro-life legislation.

Later, his spokesperson, Christina Pushaw, said: “Gov. DeSantis doesn’t want to pit citizens against each other, ”referring to the part of Texas law that provides financial incentives to private citizens who sue anyone helping someone to have an abortion.

After the National Women’s March group announced the date October 2, hundreds of affiliated locals announced their intention to rally. Florida gathering locations and more information can be found at www.womensmarchfl.org or to www.facebook.com/ groups / womenmarchfl /. ??

In the KNOW

Florida October 2 Gatherings

Fort Myers Time: 10 a.m. Location: Lee County Justice Center, 2075 Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd.

Naples Time: 2:00 p.m. Location: Collier County Courthouse, 3315 Tamiami Trail E.

Punta Gorda Time: 10 a.m. Location: Punta Gorda City Hall, 326 W. Marion Ave.

West Palm Beach Time: 3 p.m. Location: West Palm Beach waterfront, Clematis Street and Flagler Drive