Protest in Yuma to stop state abortion bans

Just last year, the leading anti-abortion advocacy group, Americans United for Life, named Arizona the most pro-life state in the country.

Whereas just over in California, Governor Gavin Newsom supports women’s right to choose for themselves, and that’s exactly what some locals here in Yuma were protesting Tuesday.

On the steps of the Old County Courthouse, you could hear the chants of, “When women’s rights are under attack, what do we do stand up fight back.”

A group of locals who support Yuma Indivisible, protested the recent abortion bans happening in states like Alabama and Georgia.

This group believes life starts at breath not heartbeat.

Maribel Padilla traveled from El Centro, where abortion laws are pro-choice, to show support to her neighboring state of Arizona.

In Arizona, Governor Ducey and Senator McSally both support pro-life legislation.

Padilla told News 11, “It should be the woman’s choice and it shouldn’t have to be because you were raped that you had a choice. It should be your choice period regardless of the circumstance.”

The Vice-Chair of AZ Dems, Bryan Rasmussen, added, “A lot of women that seek abortions are not in positions to be able to afford to start a family or provide for their children. So a lot of these children that there would force to be born would be born into unideal situations”

There has been some push back from some Imperial Valley residents opposed to abortions.

Meanwhile, since Alabama’s strict new abortion laws, both Ducey and McSally have agreed to support the exceptions for the life of the mother, rape, and incest.

This all comes as the Center for Disease Control recently reported that the U.S. fertility rate has hit a record low.