Protesters stage stand-in to oppose 'fetal heartbeat' bill

BATON ROUGE — Nearly 300 abortion rights demonstrators gathered at the Louisiana State Capitol on Thursday to protest the "fetal heartbeat" anti-abortion bill, which Gov. John Bel Edwards signed into law later that afternoon.

The protesters staged a silent "stand-in" outside the House and Senate chambers in opposition to the bill that landed on the governor’s desk after a 79-23 House vote Wednesday.

The law bans abortions after a fetal heartbeat can be detected, which is usually around six weeks of pregnancy and before many women are aware they are pregnant. Louisiana’s "fetal heartbeat" law does not provide exceptions for victims of rape and incest.

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