CHICAGO ( Associated Press) – Abortion rights protesters rallied in cities around the United States on Saturday, vowing to fight to make sure abortion remains a legal option for women across the country.
Hundreds of people gathered in Chicago, Atlanta, Houston and other cities after the opinion of the US Supreme Court was leaked to the public, saying the court was set to overturn the 1973 Roe v. Wade case, which ruled the country. Abortion was legalized throughout. The draft opinion, which comes amid nearly 50 years of federal abortion protections, could change in the coming weeks before the decision is finalized.
Court Matter Illinois President Carol Levine told WMAQ-TV during the rally, “To think that, even after all this time, people still want to control what women can do and make our personal health decisions.” Our rights are really outrageous.” in Chicago.
DETROIT, MICHIGAN, UNITED STATES – 05/07/22/2022: Protesters hold placards, chant and march through downtown Detroit in support of Roe v Wade. Pro-choice activists marched through the streets of downtown Detroit, Michigan to protest a leaked document that showed the US Supreme Court was set to reverse Rowe v. Wade. Photo by Matthew Hatcher / SOPA Images / LightRocket via Getty Images
Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker attended the rally and vowed to protect reproductive rights in Illinois.
“I am proud that Illinois is an island for reproductive freedom in the Midwest,” he said. “Our shores are open to anyone left behind by these extremist politicians.”
In the nation’s capital, abortion rights protesters stood outside the Supreme Court, signaling that abortion is a human right, or “repeale the Court.” Protesters protesting abortion took to the street.
In Atlanta, protesters held signs in favor of abortion rights as they marched through that city’s downtown, saying, “Not the church and not the state, women should decide our fate.”
In Houston, thousands attended a reproductive rights rally headlined by Democrat Beto O’Rourke, who is running for governor of Texas. Texas is one of several states that would automatically ban abortion, leaving no exceptions for rape or incest, if the High Court overturns the nationwide right to abortion.
An investigation is underway to determine who leaked the Supreme Court draft opinion to Politico.
