Anti-abortion rally draws counter protests in South Bend following overturn of Roe v. Wade

SOUTH BEND — Michiana opponents of abortion rights celebrated what they see as a victory for life and called for greater support of families in a rally Monday outside downtown South Bend's federal courthouse.

The rally of roughly 60 or more people was organized by Hoosier Conservative Voices and advertised more than a week before the Supreme Court made its landmark decision Friday overturning Roe v. Wade.

'It's about freedom': South Bend activists protest overturn of Roe

The justices' 6-3 majority opinion, issued in the case Dobbs v. Jackson Women's Health, sends authority to regulate abortion back to state lawmakers for the first time in 50 years.

"Our constitution has been through battles through the ages," said U.S. Rep. Jackie Walorski, who cheered former South Bend resident Justice Amy Coney Barrett for her role in returning abortion rights decisions to the states. "Our constitution today is as solid as when it was written."

Abortion debate turns to Statehouse

Indiana lawmakers are likely to address the issue in a special session convening July 6, initially called to address sending money back to Hoosiers amid rising inflation.

While state lawmakers have given every indication that they plan to regulate abortion, it remains unclear how far restrictions will go. Whole Woman's Health Alliance CEO Amy Hagstrom Miller told The Tribune earlier this month that her organization's South Bend location — the city's only abortion clinic — will continue providing the procedure as long as it's legal in Indiana.

State Rep. Jake Teshka, who spoke during the at the rally, told The Tribune he expects state lawmakers to pursue a bill that bans elective abortion procedures with exceptions for rape, incest and the endangerment of a person's life during their pregnancy.

He also said lawmakers are likely at the same time to consider legislation that would provide resources to mothers and families, such as extending child support through pregnancy and looking at ways to reduce the cost of adoption. He pointed to the state's $6 billion in cash reserves.

"Moving forward, the overall revenue forecast looks really good," Teshka said. "There's room in the budget to do some of these things to help others through this time."

Some, however, are calling for even stauncher restrictions.

"Today, I stand here and ask for our lawmakers to do the right thing, and let me add, do the right thing with zero exceptions," said Serena Dyksen, an abortion rights opponent who shared her own experience feeling misled through an abortion procedure at 13 years old. "That abortion followed me throughout my life. It got to a point where I thought I was unworthy to be a mother and a wife."

Melanie Lyon of Hoosier Conservative Voices outlined the conservative movements' next steps through a new, statewide "Voices for Life" initiative. The group is enlisting anti-abortion advocates to send buses from each congressional district to the Indiana Statehouse during lawmakers' special session as they consider how to draft and adopt abortion policy.

"We want to be there peacefully to show our support for restoring legal protections to the unborn and to pray for our legislators as they consider this momentous decision," Lyon said.

Counter protests support protecting abortion rights

Though leaked weeks earlier, the Supreme Court decision issued Friday has drawn protests across the county.

More than 100 abortion rights advocates rallied peacefully outside the Morris Performing Arts Center in downtown South Bend the day the opinion was issued. And both those for and against abortion met in demonstrations Saturday that saw hundreds more gather at the Indiana Statehouse.

Across the street from Monday's rally, a group of about 50 counter protestors chanted "my body, my choice," and garnered support from cars passing by. Some were there on their lunch break while others were walking by and decided to join.

One person said they were there because they "didn't want only one voice to be heard today."

South Bend abortion clinic: 'We're going to keep on keeping on'

A recent Gallup poll, conducted before the Supreme Court opinion last week, found 58% of Americans oppose the court overturning Roe v. Wade.

Jennifer Shabazz organized the counter-effort and drew people out through word of mouth and Facebook. Shabazz said she has been involved in the abortion rights movement her entire life.

"I've had to be to keep protecting that right. I never thought I would actually not have that right," she said. "I always thought I was just protecting, but now, I've lost the right."

Email South Bend Tribune education reporter Carley Lanich at clanich@gannett.com. Follow her on Twitter: @carleylanich.

Email Alysa Guffey at aguffey1@gannett.com. Follow her on Twitter @AlysaGuffeyNews.

This article originally appeared on South Bend Tribune: After Roe v. Wade overturned, abortion opponents rally in South Bend