
Reproductive rights protesters rally outside a federal Courthouse in downtown Los Angeles on May 3, 2022. (Photo: Frederic J. Brown/AFP via Getty Images)
'Five-Alarm Fire': Anger, Resolve as Thousands Rally Nationwide for Reproductive Rights
"It took a mass movement to win Roe," said Seattle rally host and city lawmaker Kshama Sawant, "and it'll take a mass movement to defend it."
Thousands of reproductive rights defenders took to the streets of cities across the United States on Tuesday, one day after a leaked U.S. Supreme Court draft opinion indicating that Roe v. Wade will likely be overturned sent shockwaves across the nation.
"Beyond protests, we will need mass meetings to plan next steps for the movement including direct action and even strikes."
In New York City, where messages on demonstrators' placards ranged from "liberty presumes an autonomy of self" to "get your fucking hands off our bodies," state Attorney General Letitia James was among the thousands of protesters who rallied in Foley Square. James shared that she had an abortion while serving on the New York City Council.
"This is a call to action, this is a five-alarm fire, my friends," James shouted to the crowd, according to The New York Times. "This is a time to act, this is not the time to be silent because silence is the enemy right now."
Derek Holmes, a 26-year-old man, told the Times that he was attending the rally because he had "been in a situation where having an abortion saved me from becoming an ill-equipped father."
\u201cOur VP of Advocacy @APCantillo speaks out! \u201cToo often, it is low-income Black and brown people disadvantaged by these policies!\u201d\u201d— New York Immigration Coalition (@New York Immigration Coalition) 1651612245
Hannah Jacobs, a lawyer from New Jersey, told Mother Jones that "a group of men that are 70, 80-years-old--who have lifetime appointments, that have not been voted into office--should not have a say over whether I choose to have a baby or not."
"They're not 'pro-life,' they're 'pro-birth,'" she said. "As soon as the baby comes out, they don't give a damn who that baby is, they don't give a damn about the mom, they don't give a damn about health care... they just want to exert control over our bodies."
In Washington, D.C., a large crowd gathered outside the U.S. Supreme Court to stand up for the right to choose, with many chanting: "Abortion rights are under attack. What do we do? Stand up, fight back!"
"I'm here because of the decision that was leaked last night. We are imminently about to lose the right to safe and legal abortions in this country. And I am angered, outraged and disappointed," Krithika Harish of Washington, D.C. told Al Jazeera. "It's inconceivable to me that my future daughter might have less rights than 50 years ago."
Related Content
Ocasio-Cortez Says Filibuster Defender Sinema Can 'Take a Seat' on Women's Health
Amy Marden, a Virginia attorney, told the outlet that after reading the Politico article revealing the high court's draft opinion, "I called my mom and we cried. My mom was out here fighting for abortion rights in the '70s."
"Honestly, if we don't have precedent in our country, we don't have rights," she added. "None of our rights are safe."
Supreme Court protester Shelby Davis-Cooper, a fourth-year medical student at Georgetown University pursuing an OB/GYN residency, told The Washington Post that "ultimately this a matter of human rights, and human rights should not be debated on a state-by-state basis."
\u201cThousands of supporters of abortion rights and opponents of abortion rights peacefully protest outside the US Supreme Court. The crowd is growing.\n@thenewsoncnbc 7pm (EST)\u201d— Shomari Stone (@Shomari Stone) 1651617072
In Chicago, student protesters chanted, "No more shame, no more silence, forced motherhood is fascist violence."
San Francisco marchers vowed to "rise up, rise up for abortion rights!"
In Phoenix, the rallying cry at the Arizona State Capitol was "Ho ho, hey hey, Roe v. Wade has got to stay."
\u201cHAPPENING NOW: \u2018Ho Ho, Hey Hey, Roe V Wade is here to stay!\u2019\n\nHundreds outside the Arizona State Capitol rallying for Abortion Rights. \n\nThe group is planning to march Downtown Phoenix. | @abc15\u201d— Christine Stanwood (@Christine Stanwood) 1651627710
Socialist Alternative Seattle City Councilmember Kshama Sawant, who hosted a rally in Westlake Park, said before the event that "it took a mass movement to win Roe, and it'll take a mass movement to defend it."
"We need emergency coordinated protests this week in every major city and town to kick off a sustained nationwide movement," she added. "Beyond protests, we will need mass meetings to plan next steps for the movement including direct action and even strikes."
Discussing the high court's draft opinion, Aileen Day, communications director of Planned Parenthood Advocates of Ohio, told WSYX at a Columbus demonstration that "it is not surprising, even though it is devastating that it will be overturned."
"It took us generations of work to get where we are now," she added, "and it will take generations of work to get the right to choose back. Our rights are our rights. They can make abortion illegal but we will still be able to access abortion."
\u201cAbortion rights activists are gathered outside of the Texas State Capitol building in Austin for an \u201cemergency protest\u201d in response to the leaked draft opinion from the Supreme Court that would overturn Roe vs Wade. #RoeVsWade #abortionrights\u201d— Sam Owens (@Sam Owens) 1651616594
In Syracuse, New York, Nada Odeh, founder of the local chapter of the Women's March, called the prospect of Roe's reversal "really kind of overwhelming and kind of disappointing, honestly."
"I don't want to feel the same here," the Syrian refugee told CNY Central. "I want freedom. I want to feel that this is the country I love. I feel like as a woman I don't want anyone to control my body. No one chooses abortion if they don't have to."
An Urgent Message From Our Co-Founder
Dear Common Dreams reader, The U.S. is on a fast track to authoritarianism like nothing I've ever seen. Meanwhile, corporate news outlets are utterly capitulating to Trump, twisting their coverage to avoid drawing his ire while lining up to stuff cash in his pockets. That's why I believe that Common Dreams is doing the best and most consequential reporting that we've ever done. Our small but mighty team is a progressive reporting powerhouse, covering the news every day that the corporate media never will. Our mission has always been simple: To inform. To inspire. And to ignite change for the common good. Now here's the key piece that I want all our readers to understand: None of this would be possible without your financial support. That's not just some fundraising cliche. It's the absolute and literal truth. We don't accept corporate advertising and never will. We don't have a paywall because we don't think people should be blocked from critical news based on their ability to pay. Everything we do is funded by the donations of readers like you. The final deadline for our crucial Summer Campaign fundraising drive is just days away, and we’re falling short of our must-hit goal. Will you donate now to help power the nonprofit, independent reporting of Common Dreams? Thank you for being a vital member of our community. Together, we can keep independent journalism alive when it’s needed most. - Craig Brown, Co-founder |
Thousands of reproductive rights defenders took to the streets of cities across the United States on Tuesday, one day after a leaked U.S. Supreme Court draft opinion indicating that Roe v. Wade will likely be overturned sent shockwaves across the nation.
"Beyond protests, we will need mass meetings to plan next steps for the movement including direct action and even strikes."
In New York City, where messages on demonstrators' placards ranged from "liberty presumes an autonomy of self" to "get your fucking hands off our bodies," state Attorney General Letitia James was among the thousands of protesters who rallied in Foley Square. James shared that she had an abortion while serving on the New York City Council.
"This is a call to action, this is a five-alarm fire, my friends," James shouted to the crowd, according to The New York Times. "This is a time to act, this is not the time to be silent because silence is the enemy right now."
Derek Holmes, a 26-year-old man, told the Times that he was attending the rally because he had "been in a situation where having an abortion saved me from becoming an ill-equipped father."
\u201cOur VP of Advocacy @APCantillo speaks out! \u201cToo often, it is low-income Black and brown people disadvantaged by these policies!\u201d\u201d— New York Immigration Coalition (@New York Immigration Coalition) 1651612245
Hannah Jacobs, a lawyer from New Jersey, told Mother Jones that "a group of men that are 70, 80-years-old--who have lifetime appointments, that have not been voted into office--should not have a say over whether I choose to have a baby or not."
"They're not 'pro-life,' they're 'pro-birth,'" she said. "As soon as the baby comes out, they don't give a damn who that baby is, they don't give a damn about the mom, they don't give a damn about health care... they just want to exert control over our bodies."
In Washington, D.C., a large crowd gathered outside the U.S. Supreme Court to stand up for the right to choose, with many chanting: "Abortion rights are under attack. What do we do? Stand up, fight back!"
"I'm here because of the decision that was leaked last night. We are imminently about to lose the right to safe and legal abortions in this country. And I am angered, outraged and disappointed," Krithika Harish of Washington, D.C. told Al Jazeera. "It's inconceivable to me that my future daughter might have less rights than 50 years ago."
Related Content
Ocasio-Cortez Says Filibuster Defender Sinema Can 'Take a Seat' on Women's Health
Amy Marden, a Virginia attorney, told the outlet that after reading the Politico article revealing the high court's draft opinion, "I called my mom and we cried. My mom was out here fighting for abortion rights in the '70s."
"Honestly, if we don't have precedent in our country, we don't have rights," she added. "None of our rights are safe."
Supreme Court protester Shelby Davis-Cooper, a fourth-year medical student at Georgetown University pursuing an OB/GYN residency, told The Washington Post that "ultimately this a matter of human rights, and human rights should not be debated on a state-by-state basis."
\u201cThousands of supporters of abortion rights and opponents of abortion rights peacefully protest outside the US Supreme Court. The crowd is growing.\n@thenewsoncnbc 7pm (EST)\u201d— Shomari Stone (@Shomari Stone) 1651617072
In Chicago, student protesters chanted, "No more shame, no more silence, forced motherhood is fascist violence."
San Francisco marchers vowed to "rise up, rise up for abortion rights!"
In Phoenix, the rallying cry at the Arizona State Capitol was "Ho ho, hey hey, Roe v. Wade has got to stay."
\u201cHAPPENING NOW: \u2018Ho Ho, Hey Hey, Roe V Wade is here to stay!\u2019\n\nHundreds outside the Arizona State Capitol rallying for Abortion Rights. \n\nThe group is planning to march Downtown Phoenix. | @abc15\u201d— Christine Stanwood (@Christine Stanwood) 1651627710
Socialist Alternative Seattle City Councilmember Kshama Sawant, who hosted a rally in Westlake Park, said before the event that "it took a mass movement to win Roe, and it'll take a mass movement to defend it."
"We need emergency coordinated protests this week in every major city and town to kick off a sustained nationwide movement," she added. "Beyond protests, we will need mass meetings to plan next steps for the movement including direct action and even strikes."
Discussing the high court's draft opinion, Aileen Day, communications director of Planned Parenthood Advocates of Ohio, told WSYX at a Columbus demonstration that "it is not surprising, even though it is devastating that it will be overturned."
"It took us generations of work to get where we are now," she added, "and it will take generations of work to get the right to choose back. Our rights are our rights. They can make abortion illegal but we will still be able to access abortion."
\u201cAbortion rights activists are gathered outside of the Texas State Capitol building in Austin for an \u201cemergency protest\u201d in response to the leaked draft opinion from the Supreme Court that would overturn Roe vs Wade. #RoeVsWade #abortionrights\u201d— Sam Owens (@Sam Owens) 1651616594
In Syracuse, New York, Nada Odeh, founder of the local chapter of the Women's March, called the prospect of Roe's reversal "really kind of overwhelming and kind of disappointing, honestly."
"I don't want to feel the same here," the Syrian refugee told CNY Central. "I want freedom. I want to feel that this is the country I love. I feel like as a woman I don't want anyone to control my body. No one chooses abortion if they don't have to."
Thousands of reproductive rights defenders took to the streets of cities across the United States on Tuesday, one day after a leaked U.S. Supreme Court draft opinion indicating that Roe v. Wade will likely be overturned sent shockwaves across the nation.
"Beyond protests, we will need mass meetings to plan next steps for the movement including direct action and even strikes."
In New York City, where messages on demonstrators' placards ranged from "liberty presumes an autonomy of self" to "get your fucking hands off our bodies," state Attorney General Letitia James was among the thousands of protesters who rallied in Foley Square. James shared that she had an abortion while serving on the New York City Council.
"This is a call to action, this is a five-alarm fire, my friends," James shouted to the crowd, according to The New York Times. "This is a time to act, this is not the time to be silent because silence is the enemy right now."
Derek Holmes, a 26-year-old man, told the Times that he was attending the rally because he had "been in a situation where having an abortion saved me from becoming an ill-equipped father."
\u201cOur VP of Advocacy @APCantillo speaks out! \u201cToo often, it is low-income Black and brown people disadvantaged by these policies!\u201d\u201d— New York Immigration Coalition (@New York Immigration Coalition) 1651612245
Hannah Jacobs, a lawyer from New Jersey, told Mother Jones that "a group of men that are 70, 80-years-old--who have lifetime appointments, that have not been voted into office--should not have a say over whether I choose to have a baby or not."
"They're not 'pro-life,' they're 'pro-birth,'" she said. "As soon as the baby comes out, they don't give a damn who that baby is, they don't give a damn about the mom, they don't give a damn about health care... they just want to exert control over our bodies."
In Washington, D.C., a large crowd gathered outside the U.S. Supreme Court to stand up for the right to choose, with many chanting: "Abortion rights are under attack. What do we do? Stand up, fight back!"
"I'm here because of the decision that was leaked last night. We are imminently about to lose the right to safe and legal abortions in this country. And I am angered, outraged and disappointed," Krithika Harish of Washington, D.C. told Al Jazeera. "It's inconceivable to me that my future daughter might have less rights than 50 years ago."
Related Content
Ocasio-Cortez Says Filibuster Defender Sinema Can 'Take a Seat' on Women's Health
Amy Marden, a Virginia attorney, told the outlet that after reading the Politico article revealing the high court's draft opinion, "I called my mom and we cried. My mom was out here fighting for abortion rights in the '70s."
"Honestly, if we don't have precedent in our country, we don't have rights," she added. "None of our rights are safe."
Supreme Court protester Shelby Davis-Cooper, a fourth-year medical student at Georgetown University pursuing an OB/GYN residency, told The Washington Post that "ultimately this a matter of human rights, and human rights should not be debated on a state-by-state basis."
\u201cThousands of supporters of abortion rights and opponents of abortion rights peacefully protest outside the US Supreme Court. The crowd is growing.\n@thenewsoncnbc 7pm (EST)\u201d— Shomari Stone (@Shomari Stone) 1651617072
In Chicago, student protesters chanted, "No more shame, no more silence, forced motherhood is fascist violence."
San Francisco marchers vowed to "rise up, rise up for abortion rights!"
In Phoenix, the rallying cry at the Arizona State Capitol was "Ho ho, hey hey, Roe v. Wade has got to stay."
\u201cHAPPENING NOW: \u2018Ho Ho, Hey Hey, Roe V Wade is here to stay!\u2019\n\nHundreds outside the Arizona State Capitol rallying for Abortion Rights. \n\nThe group is planning to march Downtown Phoenix. | @abc15\u201d— Christine Stanwood (@Christine Stanwood) 1651627710
Socialist Alternative Seattle City Councilmember Kshama Sawant, who hosted a rally in Westlake Park, said before the event that "it took a mass movement to win Roe, and it'll take a mass movement to defend it."
"We need emergency coordinated protests this week in every major city and town to kick off a sustained nationwide movement," she added. "Beyond protests, we will need mass meetings to plan next steps for the movement including direct action and even strikes."
Discussing the high court's draft opinion, Aileen Day, communications director of Planned Parenthood Advocates of Ohio, told WSYX at a Columbus demonstration that "it is not surprising, even though it is devastating that it will be overturned."
"It took us generations of work to get where we are now," she added, "and it will take generations of work to get the right to choose back. Our rights are our rights. They can make abortion illegal but we will still be able to access abortion."
\u201cAbortion rights activists are gathered outside of the Texas State Capitol building in Austin for an \u201cemergency protest\u201d in response to the leaked draft opinion from the Supreme Court that would overturn Roe vs Wade. #RoeVsWade #abortionrights\u201d— Sam Owens (@Sam Owens) 1651616594
In Syracuse, New York, Nada Odeh, founder of the local chapter of the Women's March, called the prospect of Roe's reversal "really kind of overwhelming and kind of disappointing, honestly."
"I don't want to feel the same here," the Syrian refugee told CNY Central. "I want freedom. I want to feel that this is the country I love. I feel like as a woman I don't want anyone to control my body. No one chooses abortion if they don't have to."