Anti-abortion activists celebrate Roe v. Wade reversal at 'Life Is Louder' rally in Phoenix

Hundreds gathered in front of the Arizona Capitol on Saturday morning to celebrate the repeal of Roe v. Wade and demand more efforts from state lawmakers in protecting the unborn.

Supporters of the repeal held signs that read "Protection at conception," "Pro-life feminist" and "We are the post-Roe generation." Teenagers, kids and babies were among the crowd.

The event was organized by Students for Life Action, a national anti-abortion youth organization, as part of a national mobilization to celebrate "a post-Roe America," according to a statement from the organization.

Jordyn Brittain, the regional coordinator of Students for Life in Arizona, said the organization had been preparing for Saturday's event for months.

"We knew that whether it was a win or a lose for the pro-life movement yesterday, we wanted to show that we're still going to be fighting as hard as ever to protect life from conception," Brittain said.

"Life Is Louder" rallies took place in about 32 states, including Arizona, Texas, New Mexico, Alabama, Colorado and California.

"That's a huge step in the right direction, with overturning Roe, but we have a lot of work ahead because there are still states that want to legalize abortion up to nine months," Brittain said. "We've got to work to be unified across the country that life in the womb is just as precious as life outside."

The rally featured religious demonstrations with attendees gathering to pray throughout the event.

A crowd of about 50 counterprotesters also showed up at the northeast corner of the state Capitol, near the House of Representatives building.

Rhys Brown, a counterprotester, said both demonstrations happened at the same time by coincidence, and that he was surprised to see the celebration for Roe's overturning taking place.

Brown said the Supreme Court decision was "unjustifiable" and that he showed up in support of women choosing whether they want an abortion or not.

Brown, a member of the LGBTQ community, said that he believes the repeal decision demonstrates that politicians who hold positions of power are not representing the desires of the public, particularly minority groups.

"I feel like the wrong people are making the wrong choices about a body that's not theirs," Brown said.

A brief clash occurred between protesters from both rallies.

Demonstrators in favor of abortion rights started chanting, "My body, my choice," as two anti-abortion demonstrators walked through the crowd, waiting to cross the walkway.

The anti-abortion demonstrators started filming the crowd with their phones as they said, "You're killing babies. Stop killing babies."

'I used to be pro-choice'

Hope Montalvo, who showed up at the anti-abortion demonstration, said she had an abortion four years ago when she was 18.

"I thought it was something liberating, freeing. Something that would make me feel good since it was my body, my choice," Montalvo said. "Abortion comes with a price, it wasn't just one quick fix. It was something that spiraled me into addiction, wrong lifestyle choices, and abusive relationships."

Montalvo is now 22 and said she now mourns the loss of her unborn child.

"I used to be pro-choice," Montalvo said. "I do understand pro-choice, but I also know that it's far from freeing, it's far from making me feel empowered by my body, and it actually made me feel trapped by the choice I made, by the guilt, by the pain."

Montalvo said she got her abortion because she was young and scared, and she was afraid her partner would leave her alone with the child.

"I don't think it's right for any child and parents not to have the resources available, but I fight for that," Montalvo said. "I don't just fight for pro-life, I fight for, especially for minorities like me, to be equal."

Montalvo said she feels happy about the court's repeal decision as she believes it will help other women like her not to feel pressured to get an abortion.

'We just want to support women'

Brittain said Students for Life has worked closely with the Arizona Life Coalition, a state affiliation of groups and organizations aimed at helping pregnant women and families.

"We just want to support women," Brittain said. "Let them know that they have resources and help in their pregnancy so that they can embrace motherhood and choose life."

According to Brittain, there are about 50 pregnancy centers across the state.

Brittain said women can find resources at standingwithyou.org, a website created by anti-abortion activists to help pregnant women and mothers find local pregnancy centers, foster and adoption services, financial help, domestic abuse shelters and maternity housing, among other resources.

Reach breaking news reporter Laura Daniella Sepulveda at lsepulveda@lavozarizona.com or on Twitter @lauradNews.

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This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Anti-abortion activists laud Roe reversal at 'Life Is Louder' rally