Bartlesville group protests U.S. Supreme Court abortion decision

Daisy Creager, Bartlesville Examiner-Enterprise
·2 min read
Protesters line the street of Adams Boulevard outside the Bartlesville Community Center Monday to protest the Supreme Court's ruling overturning Roe v. Wade.
Protesters line the street of Adams Boulevard outside the Bartlesville Community Center Monday to protest the Supreme Court's ruling overturning Roe v. Wade.

It was a sweltering 101 degrees on Monday evening as protesters lined the sidewalk of Adams Boulevard in front of Unity Square, holding signs high and chanting.

What started as a gathering of 16 grew to more than 30 people protesting the recent U.S. Supreme Court decision overturning the constitutional right to abortion.

Just hours before the Fourth of July fireworks began, the group, made up of women and men of varying ages, held signs reading “My gun has more rights than my wife” and “Don’t tread on me” alongside an illustration of a uterus outlined by snakes.

Several of the protesters said they felt a need to assemble because some people, especially in small, conservative Bartlesville, may be afraid to express a similar opinion.

“It’s a good thing to come out and support what we believe in, because there’s a lot of people who are scared to voice their opinions on it,” protester Emma Hubble said. “We’re not baby-making machines, we deserve our rights. This is going to kill a lot more women than people think.”

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Protester Barbra Shoff said the direction of legal protections is moving toward something close to “Putin’s Russia.”

She said Democrats need to step up organizing efforts.

Protesters line the street of Adams Boulevard outside the Bartlesville Community Center Monday to protest the Supreme Court's ruling overturning Roe v. Wade.
Protesters line the street of Adams Boulevard outside the Bartlesville Community Center Monday to protest the Supreme Court's ruling overturning Roe v. Wade.

“We need to take back our rights. The Dmocrats have become complacent, especially in Oklahoma. Oklahoma is now totally red, we used to be a better mix,” Shoff said.

As the group demonstrated, passing motorists gave a variety of responses ranging from honking and to making obscene gestures. One man, on a motorcycle, rounded the block twice to flip off the protesters a second time.

Cory Fox said he also attended the protest to encourage others with similar opinions to speak up.

“I’m a fan of human rights, I like to make whatever voice I have heard,” Fox said. “This is more important than a lot of things going on.”

This article originally appeared on Bartlesville Examiner-Enterprise: Bartlesville group protests abortion decision to overturn Roe v. Wade