SWANs Protect abortion rights by all means necessary
By Ben Rizzo, Red Phoenix correspondent, Florida.
Long-established rights to abortion and reproductive healthcare are under attack as never before in America. The U.S. Supreme Court’s Dobbs decision of June 2022, which overturned its 1973 Roe v. Wade decision that had established a right to the safe, legal termination of a pregnancy, has left it up to the states to pass any abortion restrictions they see fit. Many states with governments dominated by right-wing, Christian fundamentalists — emboldened that a shift in the court’s composition to a two-thirds conservative majority (thanks to three justices appointed by Donald Trump) would eventually lead to the destruction of abortion rights — had already passed a flurry of new laws greatly restricting access to the procedure. Among these were Florida, where during the Spring 2022 legislative session, the Republican majority easily enacted a measure, signed into law by Gov. Ron DeSantis, that limited almost all abortions after 15 weeks.
Now in a post-Dobbs world, Florida’s leaders are ready to double down on their efforts to control people’s wombs. Florida Senate President Kathleen Passidomo (R-Naples) has said that she would like to see the abortion limit lowered to 12 weeks during this year’s legislative session, which begins March 7. In addition, DeSantis has already indicated an eagerness to sign a so-called heartbeat bill that would ban abortion after six weeks (which is sooner than many people realize that they’re pregnant). “I’m willing to sign great life legislation. That’s what I’ve always said I would do,” proclaimed DeSantis at a press conference when asked if he would support such a measure. Abortion rights in Florida seem to be careening toward obsolescence at the same time that people from neighboring states with more restrictive laws flock to Florida for terminations. In response, in recent months there has been an upsurge in clinic defense activity meant to ensure that reproductive rights can be accessed without the harassment and danger posed by the anti-abortion fanatics who often surround clinics.
One example of a group in Central Florida that has stepped up to fill that security breach through clinic defense is SWAN — Stand With Abortion Now — a name inspired by the beautiful swans found in Orlando’s Lake Eola Park. Recently, the Red Phoenix spoke with organizers from SWAN to learn about their activities and goals. That interview can be found below. In some cases, the responses may be from more than one member of group, in which case their first initial has been used before their response.
The Red Phoenix: What does SWAN stand for?
SWAN: Stand With Abortion Now
RP: How long has it been in existence?
SWAN: Since June of 2022
RP: What was the impetus behind its formation?
SWAN: The overturn of Roe v. Wade was the main reason for the formation of SWAN.
RP: What activities is it engaged in?
SWAN: [Our group] primarily functions as a clinic escort and defense group. SWAN’s main focus is to protect our clinics’ patients and staff from harassment and invasion of privacy from right-wing, Christian nationalist protesters who yell, lie, and film outside of the facility. However, we also provide resources to the unhoused community that continues to grow in the surrounding downtown community. We’ve also just recently obtained Narcan [Naloxone] to provide overdose reversal assistance to anyone in the area who may be at risk. First and foremost we are an abortion rights advocacy group.
