Alabama Abortion Bill Protests

MONTGOMERY, Ala. (AP) – A crowd of about 100 people rallied outside the Alabama Statehouse to protest legislation they say would close abortion clinics or attempt to outright ban most abortions.

Dr. Didi Saint-Louis, the medical director at Planned Parenthood Southeast, says legislators need to stay out of the medical exam room. Planned Parenthood organized the Wednesday rally.

Lawmakers are considering a bill that would prohibit an abortion clinic from being located within 2,000 feet of a public school. The bill is aimed at a Huntsville clinic which is across the street from a school.

A separate bill would ban abortions once a fetal heartbeat is detected, which can happen as early as six weeks into a pregnancy. A federal judge ruled a similar North Dakota law unconstitutional.