Pro-choice rally held in Miller Park

Protests held in response to Tennessee enactment of Human Life Protection Act

CHATTANOOGA (WDEF) — Tennessee’s Human Life Protection Act went into effect Thursday, banning abortion across the state.

This prompted a pro-choice rally Thursday night at Chattanooga’s Miller Park.

One activist believes most people don’t understand how serious the new laws are and that these new laws could come at the cost of Tennesseans’ lives.

“I think a lot of people did not realize the depth of what this is going to mean until it’s actually happened,” said Shannon Hardaway of the Chattanooga Health Advocacy Team. “I encourage people to continue to watch for laws and really pay attention to what’s going on around them because that’s how we’ve back-slid already.”

Under the new guidelines, anyone caught providing abortion services could be charged with a class C felony, which could result in three to 15 years in prison and a potential fine of up to $10,000.