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PHOTOS: Hundreds Rally For Women’s Health In North Dakota, Urge Governor To Veto Extreme Abortion Bans

A package of stringent abortion restrictions is expected to hit North Dakota Gov. Jack Dalrymple’s (R) desk early this week — including a “heartbeat” measure that would outlaw abortion at just six weeks of pregnancy, legislation that would force the state’s last remaining abortion clinic to close its doors, and a first-of-its kind ban on abortions due to genetic abnormalities.

But North Dakota residents are fighting back against their lawmakers’ war on women’s health, urging Dalrymple to reject the proposed abortion restrictions. On Monday afternoon, approximately 300 people — including some Republican state lawmakers who oppose their colleagues’ recent anti-choice agenda, saying their fellow legislators have “stepped over the line” with the extreme abortion bans — gathered in Bismarck, ND for a “Stand Up For Women” rally. Protestors hoped to communicate that North Dakota will not condone more attacks on reproductive freedom.

Republican Rep. Kathy Hawken and Republican Sen. Judy Lee, who broke from their party this session to oppose the stringent abortion restrictions because they go too far to threaten women’s health care in the state, both attended the rally in Bismarck. Women’s health advocates flocked to the steps of the state capitol building, brandishing signs declaring “VETO,” “Trust Women,” and “Stop The War On Women” (all photos via Stand Up For Women):

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And later on Monday evening, an even larger group turned out for a second rally in downtown Fargo, ND, where speakers — including several medical professionals — spoke out against the potentially devastating effects of continuing to curtail women’s access to safe abortion care (all photos via Stand Up For Women):