Dozens of Iowans gathered in front of the Iowa Capitol Friday night to decry the Iowa Supreme Court’s “fetal heartbeat” ruling, paving the way for enforcement of a ban on most abortions at about six weeks of pregnancy.

“Today, June 28th, is going to go down as a tragic day in Iowa history,” Iowa Senate Democratic Leader Pam Jochum said to those who attended the solidarity circle hosted by Planned Parenthood. People also rallied in Davenport, Iowa City, Sioux City, Ames, Cedar Rapids and Waterloo.

Jochum was joined by Democratic House Leader Jennifer Konfrst, 3rd Congressional District Democratic candidate Lanon Baccam and other politicians who came to offer their support.

“This decision from the Iowa Supreme Court is a devastating blow to reproductive freedom in a state that has already seen its health care system decimated by Iowa politicians who are hell-bent on banning abortion in this state,” Planned Parenthood Public Affairs Director Mazie Stilwell said. “The impact will be widespread, and it will impact generations to come.”

But while many Iowa Democrats condemned the 4-3 decision, many Republicans applauded it. On June 22, hundreds of Iowans gathered in the Capitol rotunda to show their support for the fetal heartbeat bill.

“There is no right more sacred than life, and nothing more worthy of our strongest defense than the innocent unborn,” Gov. Kim Reynolds said in a release Friday. “Iowa voters have spoken clearly through their elected representatives, both in 2018 when the original heartbeat bill was passed and signed into law, and again in 2023 when it passed by an even larger margin. I’m glad that the Iowa Supreme Court has upheld the will of the people of Iowa.”

Iowans who span across generations attended Friday evening’s gathering. Danika Jacobsen, 18, who was a member of Planned Parenthood’s Teen Council this past year, was one of the speakers.

“We won’t stand idly by while they try to control our bodies and futures,” Jacobsen said. “We demand reproductive justice for all, and that means fighting against unjust laws like this one here in Iowa.”

Shari Hawk, 74, of Ankeny, said she attended because she needed to be there.

“I just felt so sad” when the decision was announced, Hawk said. “I couldn’t imagine them making a decision like that and not feeling total shame for what they were doing … the cruelty seems to be the point.”

Hawk remembers when she was a young adult and abortion wasn’t a legal option.

“I had my daughter at 19, and I love her dearly … but I didn’t really have a choice because it was 1969,” she said. “I just decided that if anybody needs to be out there working on this, it needs to be me.”

Dr. Francesca Turner, a Des Moines OB-GYN, said politics doesn’t belong in her exam room.

“The Supreme Court of Iowa has decided they know better how to practice medicine than physicians,” she said. “We’ve spent decades in training to have expertise in our field, and they don’t understand how precarious people’s lives can be. No one should be able to make those choices other than the physician and the patient.”

Data from state public health officials indicates Iowa has 3.3 OB-GYNs for every 10,000 women of reproductive age in the state — the lowest number of providers per capita in the country.

“This is only going to worsen the maternal health crisis that we already are in,” Turner said.

Jacobsen, however, says she’s up to the fight.

“Today’s battles are challenging, but they are also opportunities to show what we’re made of,” she said. “We’re rewriting the rules, challenging outdated norms and demanding a future where everyone, regardless of race, gender, or economic status, can thrive.”

Kyle Werner is a reporter for the Register. Reach him at kwerner@dmreg.com.

This article originally appeared on Des Moines Register: Iowans decry court ruling clearing way for 6-week abortion ban