ORLANDO, Fla. — As Florida’s new six-week abortion ban takes effect, clinics will now have to turn more people seeking abortion away.
Advocates on both sides of the argument have been preparing for this new law, and have told Spectrum News there’s no middle ground to be found.
Some say they are happy with the more restrictive ban, while others are voicing concerns about the negative impact they believe it has.
This is what a facility providing abortion services looks like now that the six-week abortion ban is the new reality in the state of Florida.
“We’re shielding, we get them over here and we open the door and let them in,” said Winnie Starr.
Starr is a Swan (Stand With Abortion Now) of Orlando volunteer — a grassroots organization where volunteers escort abortion patients into clinics to shield them from anti-abortion advocates that may be near the facility.
“It was right after the fall of Roe (v. Wade), there was a lot of anger and feelings," she said. "I’m from the state of Texas. I felt like I couldn’t not participate in my community.”
Officials with SWAN of Orlando say they are expecting to see many patients turned away due to the new restrictions.
The Florida Agency for Health Care Administration says they’re hard at work making sure clinics follow them.
“As always, the agency expects providers to comply with Florida law and will be adding the new abortion requirements to our survey process,” said deputy Chief of Staff Alecia Collins.
According to records, the agency has carried out more than 230 on-site inspections since 2022. The result, more than $500,000 in fines.
Among several reasons for those fines, the state found instances where clinics failed to allow 24 hours between the consultation and then the procedure.
“We see panic and the, ‘I don’t know what I’m going to do now,'" Starr said. "It becomes a very difficult conversation, because (their) entire life is going to change and (they) don’t have a single say in how to stop it."
Over on the other side of the sidewalk were anti-abortion rights activists.
“That’s my friend TJ out there preaching, he’s bringing a message of hope and help," said James Adamson. "Unfortunately, because of the noise that they have, we have to project the best way we can. That’s not in an effort to intimidate, that’s in an effort to get through the walls and have people hear what we have to say.”
Adamson told Spectrum News he does not consider himself to be a protester, but rather a missionary spreading the word of God. He said he is trying to offer women other resources they can use instead of getting an abortion.
Adamson said he’s happy Florida’s ban went from 15 weeks to six, and would love to see the state implement a total ban.
Voters will decide if that's possible in November, when an amendment to the Florida Constitution will be on the ballot — which, if passed, would protect abortion access for women up to the point of fetal viability.
While Adamson said he didn't view abortion "as a political battle, but a spiritual battle," he expects the amendment to pass in November.
"There’s too many republicans who are pro-abortion," he said. "When you look at the Democratic side, it seems like a sure thing at this point. So we don’t expect victory there. We’re going to continue to be faithful where God calls us."
With this new ban, some nonprofit leaders believe the need for their services will skyrocket.
Florida Access Network is a nonprofit dedicated to making abortion access a reality for Floridians, helping pay for abortions or even relocate people so they have access.
Stephanie Loraine Piñeiro, executive director of the Florida Access Network, says her team is expecting more women to reach out to them needing their resources.
“What people are going to need help with the most is traveling, travel support, Piñeiro said. "They’re going to need help paying for gas, paying for flights. On average, people are going to be traveling 1,000 miles to access lawful care.”
The people that utilize their services, Piñeiro says, are people who are unemployed or underemployed, who struggle to make ends meet.
Since Roe v. Wade was overturned in 2022, Piñeiro says her nonprofit saw a 235% increase in abortion support requests.
“In April 2023, we funded 93 people traveling for abortion care," said Piñeiro. "This April 2024, we supported over 250 people with close to $80,000 in abortion support.”