After the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade, arguing that there is no longer a federal constitutional right to abortion, protesters and supporters of the ruling gathered in the high court building in Washington, DC and in other cities in the country.
According to CNN research, similar demonstrations are expected in at least 70 locations across the country on Friday and weekend. Organizations such as Planned Parenthood, Bans Off Our Bodies and Women’s March are among the groups organizing the events.
On Friday in the country’s capital, a person led protesters in front of the Supreme Court in a chant of “Hands off! Hands off!” and a call and response from “My body! My choice!”
People are attending a protest for abortion rights at the Utah State Capitol. (AP) People are marching through downtown Atlanta. (AP)
“It’s illegitimate. Prohibitions on abortion are illegitimate,” the woman said.
“Forced motherhood is illegitimate.”
Protesters asked attendees to make a donation to abortion advocates and to buy abortion pills to distribute to others.
Abortion rights activists march during a protest in Foley Square in New York. (AP) Mitzi Rivas, left, hugs her daughter Maya Iribarren during a protest for abortion rights at San Francisco City Hall. (AP)
Opponents of the right to abortion were also present in front of the Supreme Court building in Washington, DC. After the decision, a man, standing between banners that included the messages “Roe is dead” and “I’m the next generation of Roe,” sprinkled champagne in the air over others who were celebrating.
There were several dozen opponents of the right to abortion at the site during the afternoon, but it looked like they had leaked from the crowd in the evening.
The demonstration was peaceful and there were no arrests or reasons for the Capitol Police to intervene. Law enforcement is available because authorities are still concerned about domestic violent extremists who may see large crowds as an opportunity for violence.
Protesters gather in downtown Portland, Oregon. (AP) Police responded with sirens and loudspeakers to tell protesters to leave the street after a truck was about to run over some members of the group as they marched through downtown Grand Rapids, Michigan. (AP)
In New York’s Greenwich Village, thousands of people marched and sang in the streets in a peaceful demonstration. One of the chants addressed the word f to Judge Brett Kavanaugh. There were some anti-abortion activists on the march, but they kept a low profile and there were no clashes seen by the CNN crew walking with the protesters.
Los Angeles protesters blocked Highway 110 as it passed through downtown, blocking traffic. While abortion will remain legal in California, protesters said they showed their concern and support for women in other states.
In Atlanta, several hundred people in two different demonstrations merged and gathered in front of the Capitol. Almost everyone protested the decision. A CNN crew saw a counter-protest where a group began their march a few miles away.
Abortion rights activists gather for a protest in Foley Square in New York. (AP) An abortion supporter is calling for pro-abortion protesters as they march through downtown Grand Rapids, Michigan. (AP)
In Texas, a large crowd gathered in front of a federal court in central Austin. People grabbed a microphone to tell stories, lots of fear and frustration. Some carried signs, including one that said “Pro-life is a lie, they don’t care if we die.”
In Washington, DC, an abortion rights activist climbed to the top of the Frederick Douglass Memorial Bridge, which was later closed. Guido Reichstadter posted videos and photos of himself on social media from the top of the bridge, where he unfurled a large green banner. Green is recognized as a symbol of the right to abortion.
Reichstadter also planted a flag on the bridge that said “Don’t step on my uterus.”
He told CNN that while many people in the United States oppose the Supreme Court decision, their support is largely passive, which he says is not enough to ensure women have access to abortion in the whole country.