Reproductive rights protests erupt nationwide in wake of leaked SCOTUS opinion
This post was originally published on this site
Protests began Monday night in the wake of Politico publishing a leaked Supreme Court draft opinion from Justice Samuel Alito that would essentially overturn Roe v. Wade and bodes terribly for reproductive rights. With Alito’s lengthy opinion threatening a host of rights, including marriage equality, people have taken to the streets to fight against such a damaging potential ruling. Demonstrations in front of the Supreme Court saw hundreds of people coming together in a show of solidarity. Shortly after, protests were planned across the country. Multiple demonstrations will take place in New York, with Amazon Labor Union organizer Christian Smalls among countless others tweeting times and locations for events. Smalls’ tweet shows how intrinsically linked reproductive rights are to labor rights, as workers have been battling for decades for equality in health care and access to necessary services like abortions.
Countless unions have voiced their support of preserving Roe, as have activists in other organizing spaces. It only makes sense that their calls for reproductive justice would include taking to the streets on Tuesday. In Michigan, where abortion restrictions preceding Roe were never eliminated, Planned Parenthood is asking folks to take to the state capitol Tuesday evening. Organizers with the Women’s March have urged people across the country to demonstrate in front of courthouses, federal buildings, town halls, and squares. And groups like the Party for Socialism and Liberation also have protests planned around the country on Tuesday and Wednesday.
More and more scenes from protests are popping up on social media, with demonstrators gathering in Georgia, Nebraska, Missouri, Michigan, Pennsylvania, and Texas.
Demonstrators in Florida are rightfully targeting Gov. Ron DeSantis, who is not only aggressively anti-abortion but has made a concerted effort to enact laws that target reproductive health care access for pregnant people and the LGBTQ community.
My state is showing out, y’all! Reproductive rights are especially essential for communities in Louisiana, which is one of 13 states that have trigger laws on the books that would automatically ban abortions were Roe to be reversed. Louisiana also faces some of the most severe weather threats due to climate change, which further threatens access to reproductive health care. As I wrote earlier, reproductive justice is an essential component of seeking environmental justice.
Hundreds took to Kerry Park in Seattle to protest Alito’s draft opinion and the potential elimination of Roe v. Wade. Though the state of Washington has relatively progressive laws protecting the right to choose, many who live there have had to travel more than 25 miles for abortion access — a particularly barrier for more vulnerable communities.
We Testify provided space outside the Supreme Court for those who’ve had an abortion to share their stories. The organization has done powerful work to center reproductive health care in its fight for equality while also supporting the LGBTQ community.
New Yorkers are out in full force to protest Alito’s draft opinion and advocate for reproductive rights. Multiple demonstrations are taking place across New York City, including at Barclays Center and Foley Square.
So far, the amount of pro-choice demonstrators have far exceeded the amount of counter-protesters near the Supreme Court.
A crowd has gathered in Portland, Maine in front of the U.S. District court. Planned Parenthood shared a tweet of the scene:
Demonstrations are taking shape in the nation’s capital, with Politico’s Nicholas Wu noting the presence of dump trucks meant to “block 1st St. and the SCOTUS protests.” Additional on-the-ground footage shows the steps to the Supreme Court completely blocked off.
I’ll be following the protests as they unfold throughout the evening so please comment if you’re attending any actions in your community. And sign the petition urging Congress to codify Roe v. Wade.