DNC launches billboard campaign targeting Trump over Florida’s Heartbeat Protection Act
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – The Democratic National Committee placed billboard advertisements throughout Florida, targeting former President Donald Trump regarding Florida’s Heartbeat Protection Act.
The new Florida law took effect May 1, as the new provision was triggered by a Supreme Court of Florida decision last month.
The billboards went up as the state’s six-week abortion restrictions took effect in major metro areas like Gainesville, Miami, Tampa and Orlando.
According to the Democratic National Association’s website, the association launched a sky banner over Mar-a-Lago May 1, which read: “Trump’s Plan: Ban Abortion, Punish Women.”
“This week, as Florida’s extreme abortion ban took effect, the DNC is making sure Floridians know exactly who is responsible: Donald Trump,” the DNC stated. “Trump paved the way for every extreme ban throughout the country and won’t stop until abortion is banned nationwide.”
In Miami, a billboard’s message says “THANKS TO TRUMP’S FL ABORTION BAN, CARE IN A STATE WITHOUT A BAN IS 665 MILES AWAY.”
Another one in Hollywood, Florida says the same as the Miami billboard, with the distance changed to 858 miles.
Florida mother and Vice President of External Relations at Live Action, a national human rights nonprofit and the digital leader of the pro-life movement, Kimberly Bird reacted to abortion activists, including a state ballot initiative aiming to constitutionally protect access to abortion up to the point of fetal viability.
“As of May 1, 2024, the state of Florida began protecting precious, innocent children in the womb when their heartbeat can be detected while also supporting local mothers with health and family resources by providing $25 million in annual funding to pregnancy centers. Data shows that the Heartbeat Protection Act could save 50,000 human lives every year by preventing deadly abortions after a heartbeat is detected by an ultrasound. But now, an extreme abortion amendment will be allowed on the November ballot that could reverse that progress. Florida voters must now learn the truth about abortion and be ready to show up and shut down Amendment 4. These precious babies need us to speak up for them in the voting booth.”
Vice President of External Relations at Live Action Kimberly Bird
Gov. Ron DeSantis has been warning Florida voters that not only is the amendment not clear on which specific week abortion can be allowed up to – with viability being generally understood to be no earlier than 20 weeks, and typically before 24 weeks – but it could also abolish requiring parental consent for minors to obtain abortions.
Vice President Kamala Harris visited Jacksonville to talk about Florida’s newly enacted six week abortion ban that went into effect on the same day of her visit.
She also swung at Trump, and claimed he would sign a national abortion ban if elected. Trump has said he would not sign such a law.
Rep. Dean Black, R-Jacksonville – also the chairman of the Duval County GOP – commented on the visit, highlighting how he believes the vice president should be focused on other issues.
Before her visit, Harris attacked Trump on social media for his appointed justices overturning Roe v. Wade, and allowing states make their own decision on the issue.
“Let’s be clear: Donald Trump is to blame for the harm state abortion bans are doing to women every day in our country,” she said.
When the law was signed by Gov. Ron DeSantis in 2023 – which applies after six weeks – the 15 week ban was still being disputed in court. It included “trigger” language to take effect once the high court rules that there is no constitutional provision protecting abortion – which comes after the U.S. Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade.
The exact statute states that a physician cannot knowingly “perform or induce a termination of pregnancy” if the fetus is more than six weeks old.
Major exceptions are if the pregnancy is a result of rape, incest or human trafficking – up to 15 weeks. Documentation for those instances is also required, and the incident in which it occurred must be reported to appropriate authorities.
The exceptions include if two physicians certify in writing that the termination is needed to “save the pregnant woman’s life” or “avert a serious risk of substantial and irreversible physical impairment of a major bodily function.”
Another exception is if the pregnancy has not yet reached the third trimester, and that two physicians certify in writing that the fetus has a “fatal fetal abnormality.”
Punishments for violating this law only apply to the person who “willfully performs, or actively participates in” terminating the pregnancy, and constitutes a third degree felony.
If a violation of this law results in the death of the woman, the charge is increased to a second degree felony.
Ahead of the law taking effect, media outlets echoed worries that women who cannot terminate their fetuses after six weeks – not in cases of rape, incest, human trafficking or for a medical emergency reason, as law stipulates – will have to travel out-of-state.
CNN and The Hill highlighted how most women don’t know that they’re pregnant at six weeks, making it extremely difficult to get an abortion in the appropriate amount of time.
With the new restrictions, women will need to travel even farther, southern states have various bans in place on abortion.
The Florida Agency for Healthcare Administration pushed back against the “lies and misinformation” regarding the new abortion restrictions.
“The pro-abortion left is lying for political gain,” Secretary of the Florida Agency for Healthcare Administration Jason Weida said. “The attempts to demonize standard healthcare for women make a physician’s job more difficult and can put a pregnant woman’s life at risk.”
The administration shared a “myth vs fact” sheet regarding the new law. It is titled “Florida is Protecting Life. Myth vs Fact. Don’t Let the Fearmongers lie to you.”
“The Heartbeat Protection Act protects women from life-threatening complications while protecting the life of the unborn,” Weida said.
Rep. Anna Eskamani, D-Orlando, shared her own version of the administration’s sheet and changed the title to: “Florida is Banning Abortion. Myth vs Fact. Don’t Let DeSantis Lie to You.”
Eskamani has consistently posted on her social media about the state of abortion access in Florida, making sure to detail how women will be able to get abortions before and after May 1.
The six week abortion law was brought into the Florida Legislature last year by Sen. Erin Grall, R-Fort Pierce; and Reps. Jenna Persons-Mulicka, R-Fort Myers, and Jennifer Canady, R-Lakeland.
