More than 200 people gathered at a rally on the Statehouse steps today to protest against SB 1349, the bill to require Idaho women to undergo an ultrasound before they can have an abortion. They carried signs with slogans including, “A uterus is not a state affair,” “GOP Hates Women,” “No forced entry” and “Protect Women's Health.” Hannah Brass of Planned Parenthood told the crowd, “Although I'm happy to see so many people here today, I'm really disappointed.” She said she's disappointed that today, on International Women's Day, Idaho's Legislature is considering this type of law. “This election season has become a referendum on women's bodies,” Brass said. “Let's be clear: Laws like these do not help women.”

Monica Hopkins, director of the ACLU of Idaho, said, “Stop using women's reproductive health as a political campaign tool. … Mandating an invasive procedure for political reasons is the ultimate in government intrusion.”

Other speakers included a registered nurse, Jennifer Carter, who told the crowd that 11 weeks into a high-risk pregnancy, she underwent a transvaginal ultrasound, the invasive ultrasound procedure used early in pregnancy to get a clear picture of the fetus. "It was an uncomfortable procedure, but one that I felt was necessary," she said, but only because she and her doctor had decided that. A counter-protester across the street held a large blue-and-orange sign proclaiming, “Abortion murders future Broncos.”

The bill, introduced last week by Senate Assistant Majority Leader Chuck Winder, R-Meridian, in the Senate State Affairs Committee, is set for a committee hearing next Wednesday at 8 a.m. As the crowd, which was about three-quarters female, broke up after today's rally, participants called to each other, "See you Wednesday."