Roe v. Wade: Abortion rights protesters rally across U.S.

Supporters of abortion rights took to the streets across America on Saturday to make clear their anger at the prospect that the Supreme Court will soon strike down the constitutional right to abortion. Cries of “My body, my choice” rang out as activists committed to fighting for what they called reproductive freedom.

After a draft opinion leaked by the court suggested that the conservative majority would vote to repeal the landmark Roe v. Wade ruling (which was incorrectly interpreted), activists rallied to voice their anger and plan for the future. Republican-led states are set to enact even tighter restrictions.

In the nation’s capital, thousands gathered at the Washington Monument before marching to the Supreme Court, which is now surrounded by two layers of security fences.

Caitlin Loehr, 34, of Washington, wore a black T-shirt with an image of the late Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg’s “dissent” collar on it and a necklace that spelled out “vote.”

“I think that women should have the right to choose what to do with their bodies and their lives. And I don’t think banning abortion will stop abortion. It just makes it unsafe and can cost a woman her life,” Loehr said.

From Pittsburgh to Pasadena, California, and Nashville, Tennessee, to Lubbock, Texas, tens of thousands participated in “Bans off our Bodies” events. The organizers expected that out of the hundreds, the largest events would be in Chicago and Los Angeles.

“If it’s a fight they want, it’s a fight they’ll get,” Rachel Carmona, executive director of the Women’s March, saidBefore the march

According to polls, most Americans want abortion to remain legal – at least for the early stages of pregnancy. However, the Supreme Court seemed to favor letting the states decide. Approximately half of the states in the South and Midwest will ban abortion if that happens.

Teisha Kimmons traveled 80 miles to Chicago to be there. saidShe fears for the safety of women living in states where abortion is legal. She saidShe might not be here today if she hadn’t had a legal abortion when she was 15.

“I was already starting to self harm and I would have rather died than have a baby,” saidKimmons is a Rockford, Illinois massage therapist.

At that rally, speaker after speaker told the crowd that if abortion is banned that the rights of immigrants, minorities and others will also be “gutted,” as Amy Eshleman, wife of Chicago Mayor Lori lightfoot put it.

“This has never been just about abortion. It’s about control,” Eshleman told the crowd of thousands. “My marriage is on the menu and we cannot and will not let that happen,” she added.

The Mississippi case is expected to be ruled by the high court in the near future, which could energize voters and shape the next midterm elections.

Texas has a law that prohibits many abortions. The challenger to one the few remaining anti-abortion Democrats in Congress marched through San Antonio.

Just days before early voting starts in her primary against U.S. Rep. Henry Cuellar, Jessica Cisneros joined demonstrators. This race could be a test of whether the court leak will mobilize voters.

Kjirsten, a Chicago nurse, and her two daughters, aged 1 and 3, agreed on the importance of voting. “As much as federal elections, voting in every small election matters just as much,” she said.

Saturday’s rallies come three days after the Senate failed to muster enough votes to codify Roe v. Wade. Sponsors included the Women’s March, Move On, Planned Parenthood, UltraViolet, MoveOn, SEIU and other organizations.