Abortion ruling quickly mobilizes pro-choicers
Jun. 29—A Facebook page, Women's Rights of Waynesville, was started the day the U.S. Supreme Court overturned the legalized abortion protections under Roe v. Wade. Within a week, Haywood protesters had taken to the street.
Brittney Conner of Waynesville started the social media page and had 250 followers within days. There's a chat group of 40 — 50 active on the page, she said.
The first official action was to get a permit to stage an all-day protest on Wednesday, June 29, with individuals holding signs on the courthouse corner between Main and Depot streets throughout the day and a march at 8 p.m.
"A lot of us went to school together," Conner said, "most at Tuscola, but we have people in Canton, Bethel and all over Haywood County."
Around 1 p.m., the bartender at Sauced walked across the street to deliver three cheese pizzas for the group to share.
The reaction from the crowd has been mostly positive, Conner said, as she discussed the stories that would be shared later in the day, including from a woman who had ectopic pregnancy and could have died if she had to carry her child to term.
"Thankfully, there are laws in place protecting the women's right to choose in North Carolina," she said, "and we want to make sure it stays that way."
Gabby Hightower is concerned the Roe court ruling could be the tip of the iceberg when it comes to other freedoms that could be limited, including access to birth control and marriage equality.
"(Justice) Clarence Thomas said he wanted to take action to reconsider contraception, so this is not just about abortion," Hightower said. "It opens the door to take away more rights."
The demonstrations could possibly be held twice a week, she said. The main goal of the public events is to raise awareness.
"We want to increase voting numbers in our state," she said. "We want people out at midterms voting in local and state elections."
North Carolina did not have a "trigger law" that would put an abortion ban or limitations in place in the event the Supreme Court took action. The recent court ruling took away federal protections for abortion and instead kicked the issue back to each state to determine if abortion would be banned, or if allowed, under what conditions.
The court's decision to overturn Roe v. Wade meant whatever laws previously existed within a state would be in effect.
In North Carolina's case, abortions are allowed until the fetus reaches viability, but restrictions apply. These include: Mandatory counseling at least 72 hours before an abortion procedure; a required ultrasound; a provision that only qualified physicians can perform abortions in North Carolina; those under age 18 must have parental consent and health insurance coverage is limited under certain circumstances.
Additionally, telemedicine for medication abortion is prohibited in North Carolina.
Republican legislative leaders have expressed interest in making state law far more restrictive, but have indicated the matter won't be taken up until the General Assembly reconvenes with newly elected leaders next winter.
N.C. Gov. Roy Cooper has vowed to protect the right to an abortion in North Carolina, while GOP legislative leaders are making a push to elect a veto-proof majority in the state legislature.
