Abortion rights protesters demonstrate in Norfolk as part of national walkout
A group of about two dozen abortion-rights protesters marched through downtown streets Wednesday as part of a national walkout demanding access to abortion be protected.
Planned Parenthood encouraged people to leave work early to show support for abortion providers as some states have moved to outlaw abortion services in the wake of the Supreme Court overturning Roe v. Wade.
The protesters, a group of community members who weren’t associated with any local advocacy organization, held a sit-in in front of the Norfolk Federal Building before marching — with a police escort — to the federal courthouse on Granby Street. Some motorists beeped horns in support, and passersby joined the march or danced to the music from the curb.
A few people along the way took exception to what they considered to be an immoral stance.
One man walked up to the protesters with a young child in a stroller, gesturing to youngster and asking the protesters, “What about her? ... What about the babies?” Protestors drowned him out with chants of, “My body, my choice!”
A co-organizer of the event who only gave the name Alli and described herself as a half-indigenous woman who was adopted, expressed skepticism that people who are against abortion would do anything to help pregnant people or children born as a result of abortion bans.
“They can’t even pass a bill for baby formula and they’re forcing people to have children?” Alli said. “What are they going to do about all the kids in foster care?”
Suzanne Wheatley, of Norfolk, heard about the sit-in on social media and said she came out because she was “incensed” by the ruling that overturned Roe.
“It’s basically saying that woman are not equal to men, and it’s not OK,” Wheatley said. “Abortions are not going to stop, safe abortions are going to stop.”
Gavin Stone, gavin.stone@virginiamedia.com
