Pro-choice and paid sick leave advocates rallied at the Missouri Capitol Thursday to protest the state legislature’s passage of two measures.

First, a ballot measure that would make most abortions in Missouri illegal again, and a bill to overturn paid sick leave for Missouri workers.

Nancy O’Brien, a St. Louis County resident and pro-choice advocate, told the crowd of about 200 that having an abortion when she was a teenager enabled her to make a better life for herself.

“I am now 66 years old, and in the 50 years since my abortion, I have had no emotional distress, no suicidal ideations, no diagnosis of breast cancer, no reproductive complications and absolutely no regrets,” she shouted as the crowd cheered her on.

The proposed abortion ban would set up a showdown at the ballot box, likely in 2026. If passed by voters, it would allow abortions in cases of rape and incest up to 12 weeks of pregnancy, medical emergencies, and fetal defects. In addition, the proposal aims to ban gender transition healthcare for children.

The protesters also blasted Republican leaders for passing a bill that would repeal the paid sick leave requirements in Proposition A, passed last November. It requires employers to provide one hour of paid sick leave to employees for every 30 hours worked.

Andi Phillips is a restaurant worker in southwest Missouri’s Springfield. She said paid sick leave is crucial for her to take care of her family of four children.

“These days, when my younger kids get sick and I have to skip a shift, I find myself playing that complicated math game just to get by,” she said. “If I miss this shift, can I buy gas? Can we get that gallon of milk? Will we be able to do laundry?”

Paid sick leave began May 1, but it would end on August 28 if Gov. Mike Kehoe signs the bill into law. Supporters, including Senate President Pro-tem Cindy O’Laughlin, R-Shelbina, have called Proposition A “a job killer.”

The protest leaders also called on Missourians to vote out of office every Republican lawmaker who voted to revoke paid sick leave and to ban abortions again.