'We are holding him accountable.' Demonstrators call on Dominican president to consider reform for total abortion ban in their country
It's a debt demonstrators say they hope will go in their favor by the end of the week when the country's Republic Chamber of Deputies review the penal code and decide their fate.
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The Bronx Dominican community gathered outside the Dominican Consulate on Thursday to call for changes to the abortion ban in the Dominican Republic.
"Las tres causaules calls for an abortion to be legal under the following three circumstances, if the pregnancy is a result of rape or incest, if the fetus is not viable, or if the fetus is a risk to the woman's life. And so we are here today to let her know that we are holding him accountable to his promise," said resident Maria, who participated in Thursday's rally.
It's a promise activists say was voiced during President Luis Abinader's presidential campaign.
Demonstrations outside the Dominican Consulate led to multiple arrests after an attempt to block the entrance doors, Assemblywoman Amanda Septimo was one of them.
"President Abinader, I hope you hear us. We are serious and we're counting on you to stand up for Dominican women," she said.
It's a debt demonstrators say they hope will go in their favor by the end of the week when the country's Republic Chamber of Deputies review the penal code and decide their fate.
