About 30 Wilmingtonians gathered yesterday before downtown’s historic courthouse to demonstrate against what they say is anti-abortion legislation. Protestors rallied in the shadow of a giant, traveling billboard featuring North Carolina Governor Pat McCrory. Those present challenged a statement the governor made last October stipulating he would not restrict access to abortion.
Protesters mobilized on short notice when ProgressNC Action, the Raleigh-based organization behind the billboard, rolled into town. Gerrick Brenner, the group’s executive director, says he’s been driving the billboard throughout the state for the past week to raise public awareness of measures within Senate bill 353--which passed last week in the House--that would limit abortion coverage under health insurance plans. Brenner says Governor McCrory’s support of the bill runs counter to campaign promises he made.
"This bill clearly says it’s about limiting health insurance on certain aspects of women’s health. How can you say you’re willing to limit health insurance and that is not limiting access? If you limit health insurance, you’re limiting access."
Today, ProgressNC, along with Planned Parenthood of NC and NARAL Pro-Choice NC, are hitting the Capitol with intent to deliver petition signatures to Governor McCrory asking him to keep his word.