North Carolina’s new abortion restriction is now in effect

North Carolina’s new abortion restrictions went into effect at midnight.

Many pro and anti-abortion protesters gathered Saturday outside of A Preferred Women’s Health Center, an abortion provider, showing their support or praying for change. 

“I came out this morning just to pray, simply to pray this morning,” said Elizabeth Harris, anti-abortion protestor.

Harris is with Sidewalk Advocates for Life, an anti-abortion group.

She feels like North Carolina is headed in the right direction.

“I absolutely do. I think we’re headed in the right direction,” said Harris. “I think babies will be saved, which is the goal, but I think more women and families will be served through this bill.”

However, other groups do not share the same views.

Pro-abortion groups across the street urged women pulling into the parking lot to keep going.

This back and forth comes as abortion providers are figuring out how to adapt to North Carolina’s new law that bans most abortions after 12 weeks.

This means women are now required to have in-person counseling before the procedure, which presents a major obstacle for most patients at “a preferred women’s health center” from out of state.

“It’s an incredible burden. It’s going to keep people from getting the abortion care they need because they’re not going to be able to logistically handle two trips,” said Calla Hales, the

Heath Center’s Executive Director.

Hales says the new law has forced her clinics to increase staffing, do and re-do paperwork, and is taking an emotional toll on patients and staff.

“As a whole is going to keep patients from receiving abortion care, and folks are going to have to remain pregnant who don’t want to be pregnant,” said Hales.