Organizers and activists in Missouri have been gathering signatures for an initiative to place women’s reproductive rights, women’s health care, and access to abortion on the ballot. Missourians for Constitutional Freedom is the conduit for the petition drive.

The signed petitions were presented Friday morning at the James C. Kirkpatrick State Information Center in Jefferson City.

A rally in support of the initiative for abortion rights started at 11:00 a.m. on the north side of the Capitol.

Tori Schafer, ACLU, spoke at the rally:

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Tori Schafer, ACLU Missouri: … Hey, y’all. Thank you for being here with us today for this momentous occasion. [….] And I am proud to say that every single campaign, every single time this campaign has went to court we have won. [cheers] Nearly fourteen months ago, in March of 2023, we filed this amendment to end our state’s abortion ban. Immediately we were met with political attacks. State officials used the legal system to delay us from collecting signatures. Our campaign had to go to court not once, not twice, but three times before we even began collecting signatures. This significant delay due to litigious actions was an attempt by government officials to prevent us from this very moment. [voice: “Those buggers.”] [laughter] Today we turned in boxes filled with hopes and dreams of bodily autonomy and for a better Missouri. [cheers] Our message is simple and clear. We want to make decisions about our bodies free from political interference. Missourians have had the right to direct Democracy for over a hundred years and the ACLU of Missouri will continue to protect this right. [voice: “That’s right.”] And just as we won our previous cases, we will continue to defeat anti-Democratic attacks in court. [voice: “That’s right.”] We are confident our signatures meet the standards required by law and have no doubt our measure will be in front of Missouri voters. [cheers] Thank you to our volunteers who followed our very strict rules and literally crossed every ‘t’ and dotted every ‘i’. Our campaign is Missouri grown, Missouri led, Missouri litigated [cheers] and we will win on Election Day because of Missourians. [cheers, applause]

[“When abortion rights are under attack, what do we do?” “Stand up, fight back.”]

Previously:

This morning in Jefferson City, Missouri – delivering the signed petitions (May 3, 2024)

This morning in Jefferson City, Missouri – delivering the signed petitions – part 2 (May 3, 2024)

This morning in Jefferson City, Missouri – rally for abortion rights at the Capitol (May 3, 2024)

Abortion Rights Rally in Jefferson City – May 3, 2024 – Press Gaggle (May 4, 2023)