After the passage of Missouri’s Amendment 3, which enshrines the right to abortion in the state’s constitution, abortion rights supporters rallied in St. Louis on Thursday to celebrate the victory while preparing for continued challenges. Advocates and legal experts anticipate that the fight to fully restore abortion access in Missouri will be an ongoing effort, involving lawsuits and legislative battles.
The ballot initiative, approved by voters earlier this week, safeguards abortion access until fetal viability, generally around 24 weeks of pregnancy. Despite this significant victory, opponents of the measure have vowed to continue their efforts to restrict abortion access, signaling a complex path forward for Amendment 3 supporters.
Gathered at Planned Parenthood’s Central West End clinic, over 100 supporters listened to Abortion Action Missouri Executive Director Mallory Schwarz, who urged continued public involvement. “We’ll have lawsuits, legislative battles, and countless opportunities to take action,” she said, emphasizing the importance of sustained activism. Schwarz credited the passage of Amendment 3 to a dedicated grassroots movement and highlighted the need for supporters to stay engaged in the months to come.
In response to the successful passage of Amendment 3, Planned Parenthood has filed a lawsuit requesting a judge to overturn Missouri’s near-total abortion ban, which was enacted following the 2022 U.S. Supreme Court decision that overturned Roe v. Wade. The organization is seeking an injunction that, if granted, would enable abortion services to resume in Missouri as early as next month.
Several rally attendees expressed their commitment to continuing the fight. Ashley Jaworski, an abortion rights supporter who had previously collected signatures for the amendment, noted the work ahead. “I anticipate a lot of legal battles in the coming months. We’ll be phone banking, emailing, strategizing,” she said. Rally speaker Sam Hawickhorst echoed this sentiment, urging volunteers to prepare to travel to Jefferson City to attend committee hearings and speak directly to legislators.
Missouri state legislators opposed to Amendment 3 have expressed their intentions to challenge the new constitutional protections for abortion. State Senator Mary Elizabeth Coleman (R-Arnold) released a statement shortly after the amendment’s passage, indicating her determination to keep abortion restrictions on the legislative agenda. Coleman criticized Amendment 3, arguing that its language could lead to further debates around reproductive rights, although the amendment does not address issues like gender-affirming care, which opponents have attempted to link to the measure.
Rally attendees noted the likelihood of delays and legal challenges before full abortion access is restored in Missouri. Citing previous legislative resistance to progressive measures like Medicaid expansion, supporter Nancy O’Brien commented, “They need to overturn this ban, so we’re expecting to go to Jefferson City and talk to our representatives.” O’Brien and others anticipate that overturning the state’s abortion ban could require further demonstrations and a prolonged legal battle.
Speakers emphasized the power of personal stories and community presence in influencing lawmakers. “It’s empowering to share your story, to look a lawmaker in the eyes and let them know how their decisions affect us,” Hawickhorst said. Rally leaders encouraged supporters to continue their advocacy through public hearings, legislative sessions, and ongoing community outreach.
As Amendment 3 supporters face a complex journey ahead, Thursday’s rally underscored the commitment of Missouri’s abortion rights advocates to see this constitutional victory translated into concrete access. With Planned Parenthood’s legal challenges underway and activists prepared to take their message to the state capital, the movement to secure and protect reproductive rights in Missouri remains energized and resilient.
