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Demonstrators protest 'heartbeat' abortion law at Georgia State Capitol

These protests occurred across the country.

ATLANTA — Demonstrators across the nation gathered Tuesday to protest a series of abortion laws being passed across the country -- including Georgia.

Gov. Kemp signed HB481, better known as the "heartbeat" abortion bill into law a few weeks ago. The law bans abortions once a fetal heartbeat is detected. That can be as early as six weeks --  before many women know they're pregnant. 

Hundreds from the ACLU, Planned Parenthood and other organizations gathered to protest the new law at the Georgia State Capitol. The Atlanta protest is a nationwide effort to fight the new laws that have yet to go into effect.

Andrea Young, the executive director of the ACLU of Georgia, told 11Alive that the "heartbeat" law does not reflect the will of the people.

"Women are not going to stand for it. Men are not going to stand for it. We are going to protect the progression we've made as women to be full partners in this society, and our reproductive rights and reproductive health are critical to our ability to be full participants in this society and in this economy," Young said. "Around the state, activists will continue to work to bring attention to this issue, keep clinic doors open and educate women on their rights. We'll remember who voted for this in November 2020."

Young said the ACLU of Georgia is lead counsel on the fight to appeal the abortion ban in the higher courts. She said the organization hopes to file a lawsuit this summer that would challenge the "heartbeat" law "in it's entirety."

Actress Frances Fisher was also in the crowd. She said that she was there to stand with the women of Georgia and represented the film industry workers who want to see equal and productive rights extend to all women.

Protesters are calling the passage of the law a move against women's rights. District attorneys across the metro Atlanta area have said they have no plans to prosecute women who seek abortions under the new 'heartbeat' law.

RELATED: Alyssa Milano calls for 'sex strike' in response to Georgia's anti-abortion 'heartbeat' law

  

RELATED: District attorneys from across metro Atlanta say they won't prosecute women for abortions

Previously, Kemp double-downed on what he called the "fight for life" saying "we (supporters of the law) will not back down." Now the governor is saying, "I did what I promised Georgians I would do. I know they're mad at me for doing what I said I would do, but I think most Georgians appreciate that."

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