Florida began enforcing its six-week abortion ban, prompting Vice President Kamala Harris to criticize former President Donald J. Trump in Jacksonville. Harris referred to the measure as “another Trump abortion ban” and accused him of forcing women to endure a “horrific reality” without access to essential medical care.
Addressing about 200 supporters at a convention center in a historically African American neighborhood, Harris warned that a second Trump term would bring “more bans, more suffering, less freedom.” President Biden has made abortion a key issue in his re-election campaign, campaigning aggressively in states with abortion restrictions like Florida and Arizona.
Harris criticized Trump for his recent comments on abortion, where he suggested that states could punish women who seek abortions. She emphasized the importance of the decision being between a woman and her doctor, without government interference.
The six-week ban in Florida has already begun to impact women’s lives, with many having to travel to other states to seek abortions. The law has sparked political debate in Florida, with Democrats hoping to overturn it through a ballot referendum in November.
Republicans in Florida focused on issues like the economy and border security in response to Harris’s visit, rather than abortion. The ban is expected to disproportionately affect African American women, who receive abortions at higher rates than other groups.
The Biden campaign has been working to secure support among African Americans, with polling showing that Black voters prioritize abortion as a key issue. At the Jacksonville event, prominent Black politicians and community members voiced their support for reproductive rights.
Abigail Geiger contributed from Jacksonville, Fla., Reid J. Epstein from Washington, and Patricia Mazzei from Miami.
