FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: April 1, 2024
CONTACT: Virginia Lucy, media@napawf.org

St. Petersburg, FL – Today, the Florida Supreme Court issued a decision allowing an amendment expanding abortion access to appear on the November ballot this year. If approved by voters, Amendment 4 would amend the state constitution to allow abortions up to 24 weeks, limiting government interference with abortion access. In a separate ruling, the court also disappointingly upheld the state’s 6-week abortion ban. The decision, set to go into effect in 30 days on May 1, ruled that the State’s Constitution does not guarantee or violate a person’s right to privacy when accessing an abortion. 

“Today’s abortion ban ruling is unconscionable. The court’s decision has far-reaching consequences not just in Florida but for people seeking abortion care throughout the Southeast,” says May Thach, Florida Organizing Manager at the National Asian Pacific American Women’s Forum. “A six-week abortion ban will have devastating impacts on communities of color, including Asian American and Pacific Islander women, immigrants, and the working poor.”

This dangerous ruling poses serious risks for abortion access in Florida in the coming months. Reproductive healthcare providers in Florida have already seen an influx of patients coming from neighboring states with existing bans on abortion. A 6-week ban in Florida would force people to travel even farther to states like North Carolina, Maryland, or Virginia. Over 158,000 AANHPI women of reproductive age live in Florida. 

NAPAWF’s Florida chapter, in coalition with other reproductive justice advocates in the state, had worked successfully to place Amendment 4 before voters. Floridians will now be able to have their say this fall and roll back this extreme anti-abortion legislation at the ballot box.

“We know that the people of Florida overwhelmingly support access to abortion and reproductive health care services for all,” said Othelia Jumapao, NAPAWF’s Florida Organizer. “We are proud to be part of the statewide campaign to amend Florida’s constitution, and we look forward to talking with voters, especially AANHPI voters, to make sure they’re informed about this effort and can make their voices heard.”

NAPAWF’s Florida chapter will continue its organizing efforts to mobilize and educate AAPI women voters about Amendment 4 in the run-up to the November 5th election. 

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The National Asian Pacific American Women’s Forum (NAPAWF) is the only multi-issue, progressive, community organizing and policy advocacy organization for Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) women and girls in the U.S. NAPAWF’s mission is to build collective power so that all AAPI women and girls can have full agency over our lives, our families, and our communities.