- November 26, 2024
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Carol Scott walks along State Road 100 in a march for women's rights in Flagler County. Photo by Sierra Williams
Sally Hirst preps the group of 48 marchers at Wadsworth Park. Photo by Sierra Williams
A group of 48 people met at Wadsworth Park to march for women's rights. The march was organized by the Flagler Beach Democratic Club. Photo by Sierra Williams
Heather Leimer holds a "Don't tread on me" sign. Photo by Sierra Williams
The protestors left Wadsworth Park to march across the State Road 100 bridge. Photo by Sierra Williams
The protestors left Wadsworth Park to march across the State Road 100 bridge. Photo by Sierra Williams
The protestors left Wadsworth Park to march across the State Road 100 bridge. Photo by Sierra Williams
The protestors left Wadsworth Park to march across the State Road 100 bridge. Photo by Sierra Williams
Steve Thress and Joe Shields march across the S.R. 100 bridge holding signs. Photo by Sierra Williams
Women holding pro-choice and women's rights sign march across the S.R. 100 bridge. Photo by Sierra Williams
A woman holds a sign reading "Birth control for men!" Photo by Sierra Williams
Flagler Beach Democratic Club Vice President David Gillon and President Sally Hirst. Photo by Sierra Williams
Nadine Witherspoon holds a sign reading "We will not be silenced! My body, my choice!" Photo by Sierra Williams
Those that did not march across the bridge, held signs along the corners at the Wadsworth Park entrance. Photo by Sierra Williams
Those that did not march across the bridge, held signs along the corners at the Wadsworth Park entrance. Photo by Sierra Williams
Kathy Reichard-Ellavsky holds a sign demanding equal pay and rights. Photo by Sierra Williams
Derek and Pamela Bray, visiting Flagler Beach from the Seattle area in Washington took part in the march. Photo by Sierra Williams
Sara Riley and Randi Fasnacht hold pro-choice flags as part of the march. Photo by Sierra Williams
Sherri Sanders and Angie Lucier at the march for women's rights held by the Flagler Beach Democratic Club. Photo by Sierra Williams
Almost 50 people in Flagler County marched along the State Road 100 bridge as part of a national protest for women's rights on Jan. 20.
The Flagler Beach Democratic Club hosted a march for women's rights that began at Wadsworth Park, went across the S.R. 100 bridge and back to rally at the intersection of Wadsworth Park. Club President Sally Hirst said this is the third year that the Flagler Beach Democratic Club held its own march supporting women's rights.
Hirst said women's rights is an important issue for everyone.
"Choice is not just a Democrat issue," she said.
For over an hour, women and men held signs that supported abortion access and demanded equal pay, among other rights. Matanzas Shores resident Carol Scott said she had participated in previous marches for women's rights. She said abortion is healthcare and should be protected.
"I'm disappointed they [Republicans] don't want to protect women's rights," Scott said.
In 2022, Governor Ron DeSantis signed a law prohibiting abortions at and after 15 weeks of gestation. Multiple abortion providers in Florida, including Planned Parenthood of Southwest and Central Florida filed a lawsuit against the 15-week ban. That court case is currently before the Florida Supreme Court, which heard oral arguments in September.
In April 2023, the governor signed another law further prohibiting abortions after six weeks, though that law does not go into effect until the lawsuit is decided. If the Florida courts decide the lawsuit in favor of the 15-week abortion ban law, the six-week abortion ban will automatically go into effect 30 days after the decision, according to Planned Parenthood's website.
Hirst said a lot of people don't realize there is a strong Democrat presence in Flagler County.
As of December 2023, Flagler County has a total of 90,813 registered voters. Of those, 23,559 are registered Democrats, 43,618 are registered Republicans, 21,348 are non-party affiliate and 2,288 are affiliated with minor parties, according to the Flagler County Supervisor of Elections of Office.
Barbara Haspiel, a member of the Flagler Beach Democratic Club, said a lot of people feel disenfranchised, and that their vote doesn't count. Several races, she said, have been decided by just a handful of votes.
People must get out and vote, she said.
"It's their right and their responsibility to vote," Haspiel said.
