Abortion rights supporters hold rally and vigil in Palm Springs after Roe v. Wade reversal

Abortion-rights supporters held a rally in front of the Palm Springs courthouse and a separate vigil Friday evening at the Mizell Center protesting the Supreme Court's ruling overturning Roe v. Wade.

The courthouse event, which drew roughly 200 people, was organized by activist group Courageous Resistance of the Desert. Several speakers shared accounts of their personal experiences related to abortion following a brief speech by Democratic congressional candidate Will Rollins. The remainder of the event consisted of an open mic session where members of the audience were invited to share their own perspectives.

The Mizell Center event, organized by Planned Parenthood of the Pacific Southwest, drew roughly 100 people. Speakers included Palm Springs City Councilmember Christy Holstege  and audience participants from a similar open mic session.

"I think it's important people realize that this was not a legal decision by the court. This was a political decision by the court," said Jamie Trachtenberg, the courthouse rally's organizer and co-chair of Courageous Resistance's Women's Issues Committee.

"Every person today woke up with less rights than we had yesterday," she added.

Scarlett Hopkins, a 15-year old high school student from Indian Wells, spoke at the courthouse event about the importance of abortion rights for women who were raped, sexually assaulted or unable emotionally or financially to care for a child. She is a survivor of sexual assault, Hopkins added, an experience which motivated her to speak at the event.

Speakers and attendees at both events expressed alarm at the possibility that other rights, such as access to contraceptives and gay marriage, could be rolled back in similar future decisions by the court.

"I'm here because I feel like my women's rights have been violated," said Noreen Lawlor, a Joshua Tree resident at the Mizell Center vigil. "I'm very worried about my other rights being violated," she continued, noting the dangers to contraceptive access and gay marriage.

"I spent many years in nursing," Lawlor added. "I saw many women suffering, sometimes even dying, from illegal abortions."

Speaking at the Mizell Center vigil, Palm Springs councilmember Holstege predicted that the Coachella Valley could become a hotspot for residents of neighboring states that might face restricted abortion access in the future.

"In California, abortion is still safe and legal and accessible," Holstege said. "We are going to fight to increase access for our neighbors in Arizona who are going to flee for care to this region."

Several speakers at the courthouse rally who identified themselves as gay men called on male members of the LGBTQ community to show stronger support for women on issues like abortion rights.

"I'm disappointed in the gay men. Where are they tonight?" said a speaker who identified himself as Kevin. "Some of us are here, but the majority are partying over on Arenas."

"You wait, they'll respect and want the women's support when it comes down to banning gay marriage, gay rights and everything else," he added.

The events come in the wake of a landmark decision by the Supreme Court issued Friday morning to overturn Roe v. Wade, the 1973 ruling that held women had a constitutional right to an abortion without excessive government restriction. The decision, which leaves abortion-rights as an issue to be decided by individual states, is expected to prompt many states to follow Missouri in banning, or severely limiting, abortion access.

Anticipation over the decision had been building following a leaked draft of the Supreme Court decision published by Politico in early May. Since then, a number of similar pro-abortion events have been held in the Coachella Valley by Courageous Resistance of the Desert, Planned Parenthood and other groups.

Prior reporting from Desert Sun politics reporter Tom Coulter was incorporated in this report.

James B. Cutchin covers business in the Coachella Valley. Reach him at james.cutchin@desertsun.com

This article originally appeared on Palm Springs Desert Sun: Abortion rights supporters hold rallies Friday in wake of Roe ruling