DeSantis regime threatens First Amendment in war on abortion rights

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis’ administration has threatened a local television station for airing an ad that supports an abortion-rights-restoring ballot initiative.

The measure, also known as Amendment 4, seeks to overturn the state’s six-week abortion ban, which was passed by the Republican-led legislature in 2023. The measure would allow for abortion until fetal viability—around 23 to 24 weeks—and when necessary to protect the health of the pregnant person.

The Florida Department of Health sent a letter on Oct. 3 to WFLA-TV objecting to the station airing an ad from the group Floridians Protecting Freedom. Reporter Jason Garcia uncovered the letter and posted it to social media this past Saturday.

The ad, titled “Caroline,” features a Tampa woman telling the story of finding out she was diagnosed with brain cancer while pregnant with her second child.

“The doctors knew if I did not end my pregnancy, I would lose my baby, I would lose my life, and my daughter would lose her mom,” she says. “Florida has now banned abortion even in cases like mine.”