MONTGOMERY, Alabama --- Advocates of abortion rights rallied outside the Alabama State House today, blasting proposed legislation that would impose new rules on abortion clinics.

Abortion opponents showed up at the planned rally, leading to a few instances of the two sides trying to outshout each other. But the rally that included representatives of Planned Parenthood and some Democratic leaders in the Alabama Senate proceeded without any serious incident.

The Capitol Police intervened on a couple of occasions, including once when an abortion foe shouted a question at one of the speakers.

The state Senate is expected today to consider a bill by Rep. Mary Sue McClurkin, R-Indian Springs, that would require abortion clinics to use doctors with local hospital admitting privileges. The bill would require clinics to meet the same building safety codes as ambulatory surgical centers, which would include wider hallways and other changes. The House of Representatives has already passed the bill, so the Senate could give it final passage today.

Supporters of the bill say it is an effort to make abortions safer. But opponents, including those who spoke at the rally, say it is an effort to shut down clinics and deprive women of choice.

"This bill is not about safety. This bill is about denying access," said Sen. Linda Coleman, D-Birmingham.

“There will be abortions,” Coleman said. “But everybody remembers the old coat hanger in the back alley.”

Sen. Vivian Davis Figures, D-Mobile, said she was “sick and tired” of men telling women what they could and could not do with their bodies. Figures said she was not personally in favor of abortion, but that “it should be our decision.”

Laura Bell of Huntsville, who is opposed to abortion, held a sign during the rally that read: "Lord, Forgive us and our Nation."

“Women are the first educators of all children,” Bell said. “If we can’t love them and nurture them from the moment of conception, we are a dying world.”

Some Democrats who spoke at the rally used it to draw attention to the need to elect more Democrats.

"We need to have a political solution," said state Democratic Party Chairman Mark Kennedy, who said 56 percent of registered voters in the state are women.

Sen. Rodger Smitherman, D-Birmingham, mentioned the 2014 elections. Democrats lost majorities in the Senate and House of Representatives in 2010.

"This needs to be a crusade all the way through November 2014," Smitherman said. "We're asking you to send us some help down here."

Marcus McDonald of Fayette was among the abortion opponents who attended the rally. He repeated a quote he said was from Ronald Reagan.

"It's funny that everybody speaking for abortion has already been born."

Updated at 3:05 p.m. with quotes from Linda Coleman, Mark Kennedy, Rodger Smitherman and Marcus McDonald.