'My body, my choice!': Protestors gather to oppose leaked Supreme Court draft to ban abortion

Nancy DeGennaro, Murfreesboro Daily News Journal
·3 min read
2

Cloaked in a flowing red cape and white bonnet, often with her head turned downward, Sherri Harris tightly clutched a sign that read, "Together We Fight for All."

Harris silently stood on a corner of the Murfreesboro Public Square while nearly 100 people around her loudly chanted in protest of the potential overturning of the U.S. Supreme Court's landmark Roe v. Wade decision legalizing abortion across the country.

"Whose rights? Our rights!"

"My body, my choice!"

"Choice is justice!"

Nice Bartley, holds a sign as she demonstrates against an leaked opinion from the U.S. Supreme Court that could possibly overturn Roe vs. Wade, and reverse legalized abortions in the US. in Murfreesboro on Tuesday, May 3, 2022, as Darlene Neal demonstrates over a megaphone in the background.
Nice Bartley, holds a sign as she demonstrates against an leaked opinion from the U.S. Supreme Court that could possibly overturn Roe vs. Wade, and reverse legalized abortions in the US. in Murfreesboro on Tuesday, May 3, 2022, as Darlene Neal demonstrates over a megaphone in the background.

Harris' costume is a hallmark of "The Handmaid's Tale," a dystopian novel and TV series in which the United States is ruled by a religious sect that forces women into reproductive servitude. The costume represents a reality that is all too close for the Planned Parenthood supporter.

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"I'm defending Roe v. Wade so abortion stays legal in the United States, the way it's been for 50 years," Harris said. "I want to defend a woman's right to reproductive justice."

If Roe v. Wade is overturned, there are states with so-called "trigger laws" that would institute a de facto abortion ban. Tennessee became one of them in 2019.

Half the country will not be able to access women's healthcare if the ruling is overturned, Harris insisted.

Beth Reichenau, who was at the rally with 20-year-old daughter Peyton Reichenau, said she cried all day after the draft of the potential Supreme Court decision was obtained by Politico and leaked to the public.

A unidentified driver yells disagreements to people demonstrating on the Murfreesboro Public Square on Tuesday, May 3, 2022, who are opposing a leaked opinion from the U.S. Supreme Court that could possibly overturn Roe vs. Wade, and reverse legalized abortions in the U.S.
A unidentified driver yells disagreements to people demonstrating on the Murfreesboro Public Square on Tuesday, May 3, 2022, who are opposing a leaked opinion from the U.S. Supreme Court that could possibly overturn Roe vs. Wade, and reverse legalized abortions in the U.S.

"Depending on what geographic section of the country you live in, you've lost your body autonomy," Reichenau said. "It's not in stone yet, but it's pretty much what the decision is going to be. I am just perplexed and hurt. It's so sad for young people."

Peyton Reichenau, wearing a T-shirt with the slogan "Defend Roe," was vocal about her disgust for the potential law changes that would affect her.

"We think abortion should be a healthcare right, a necessity for women," the 20-year-old MTSU student said. "We are here to tell (the Supreme Court) that ... we can make our own choices for our own bodies."

While women were decidedly in the majority at the impromptu event, there were more than a dozen men there to support them.

"I'm here to be compassionate about the fact that human rights are human rights. It's as simple as that," said Luke Patton, who held a banner that read, "Bans Off Our Bodies."

"Women are human beings just like men. And every human being has a body; therefore, every human being deserves autonomy over that body."

Late into the protest, a man who refused to give his name became the lone counter-protester on an opposite street corner. He plopped down a box of Bibles and began holding one up as he preached a nearly inaudible sermon.

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"God ... he made male and female," the unidentified man said as he held a Bible above his head while others chanted, "Go away! Go away!"

Police officers were monitoring the scene.

As he kept preaching, protesters swarmed around the man, drowning out his message.

Eventually, the crowd of abortion justice protesters gathered and marched down to the corner of Church and Broad streets where they disbanded after about 15 minutes.

Darlene NeaL speaks over a megaphone about women's rights as she and other demonstrate on the Murfreesboro Public Square on Tuesday, May 3, 2022, opposing a leaked opinion from the U.S. Supreme Court that could possibly overturn Roe vs. Wade, and reverse legalized abortions in the U.S.
Darlene NeaL speaks over a megaphone about women's rights as she and other demonstrate on the Murfreesboro Public Square on Tuesday, May 3, 2022, opposing a leaked opinion from the U.S. Supreme Court that could possibly overturn Roe vs. Wade, and reverse legalized abortions in the U.S.

Reach reporter Nancy DeGennaro at degennaro@dnj.com.

This article originally appeared on Murfreesboro Daily News Journal: Murfreesboro protestors rally in wake of Roe v. Wade opinion