Protesters organized outside West Volusia Rep. Webster Barnaby’s office in Orange City on Saturday, Oct. 2, to voice opposition to a bill Barnaby filed in the Florida House of Representatives that would restrict abortion access. A Republican, Barnaby represents House District 27 in Southwest Volusia.
Those expressing opposition to the bill included members of Democratic clubs across Volusia County. The Orange City event happened at the same time that protesters across the country were taking part in demonstrations for women’s rights and access to abortion.
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MORE SIGNS — More protesters stand outside Rep. Webster Barnaby’s office with signs like “My body, my uterus, my choice” and “My embryo, clearly not yours.”

‘VERY CONCERNED’ — Protesters stand at the corner of Enterprise Road and Commed Boulevard in Orange City near Rep. Webster Barnaby’s office to protest a bill he filed that would restrict access to abortions. From left are Democratic Club of Southwest Volusia County President Dana Dunmire, Ellen Koven, Cynthia Kwalwasser, Bill Kwalwasser, Lynn Peterson and Democratic Club of Northwest Volusia County President Susan Vaughen. Bill Kwalwasser was among a minority of men who were out protesting the abortion access bill Oct. 2. “I’m not pro-abortion, I’m pro-the ability for women to choose their own path,” he told The Beacon.

WHOSE CHOICE? — One protester stands with a sign directly calling out Rep. Webster Barnaby and House Bill 167. HB 167 would eliminate access to abortions after a fetal heartbeat is detected. Barnaby’s bill will be taken up in the upcoming session of the Florida Legislature beginning Jan. 11, 2022.

SATURDAY-MORNING PROTEST — Some 40 people met outside Rep. Webster Barnaby’s office in Orange City at around 11 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 2, to hold signs like the one Linda Gurney is holding here that reads “Keep your theology off my biology.” Demonstrations like the one outside Barnaby’s office were happening across the country in support of women’s

‘OUR CHOICE’ — In between stints protesting at the intersection of Enterprise Road and Commed Boulevard near Rep. Webster Barnaby’s office, the group of demonstrators moved directly in front of Barnaby’s office to take a video showcasing their signs while the group chanted “My body, my choice.” Among the protesters was Democratic Club of Southwest Volusia County President Dana Dunmire. “We’re very concerned about this bill,” she said. “The hardest choice for a woman is one she should make for herself.”

SUPREME GARB — One protester who preferred not to be named poses for a picture under the sign for Rep. Webster Barnaby’s office. This person came to the demonstration dressed as a Supreme Court justice with a sign reading “1973 Roe v. Wade” in reference to the landmark Supreme Court case that ruled a woman’s right to an abortion was granted by the U.S. Constitution’s right to privacy.

BACK AGAIN — Protesters Sue Genthner, left, and Marion Mogielnicki stand with signs near Rep. Webster Barnaby’s office on the morning of Oct. 2. Genthner and Mogielnicki said they were involved in protests for abortion access when they were in college decades prior. Genthner said she didn’t think she’d be out protesting again, but called the newly filed fetal heartbeat bill “very disconcerting.”
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