Dozens protest possible abortion decision outside Tippecanoe County Courthouse

LAFAYETTE, Ind. — After POLITICO released a leaked Supreme Court draft opinion Monday detailing the justices' decision to potentially overturn the landmark decision of Roe v. Wade., protests were organized across the country.

Urged to gather at local government buildings at 5 p.m. Tuesday, the protests appeared in such cities as Austin, Boston, Denver and, closer to home, Lafayette, Ind.

Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts confirmed the draft as authentic Tuesday.

Susan Rowe, a Lafayette activist, helped organize a demonstration against the Supreme Court’s draft opinion outside of the Tippecanoe County Courthouse at 5 p.m. on May 3.

“I was freaked out when I heard that POLITICO released the decision for Roe v. Wade. I mean, I think it’s a decision, I don’t think it's just notes. And I heard online that some other people were going to the Supreme Court, and there’s a huge demonstration going on there. And I felt like we needed to represent that here in our own community,” said Rowe.

“I felt like it was a huge step back for women in the United States. I feel like it’s going back. Abortions won’t go away, now more women are going to die because it will be back-alley abortions. And the wealthy will still be able to get them because they can fly to New Jersey, or New York, or California. It’ll be the poor and it’s always the poor that get hit the hardest and there are no safety nets adequate enough on the other side of the coin.”

Although the leaked draft does show a majority of the justices in favor of overturning Roe v. Wade, no official decision has been released.

If the decision were to hold and Roe v. Wade overturned, the legality of abortion would become a decision left for individual states, rather than a federal one, according to the draft.

Among the roughly 30 people outside the Tippecanoe County Courthouse, Indiana state Rep. Chris Campbell.

“After 40 years, we are back," Campbell told the Journal & Courier. "Women are fighting for, you know, their very right to their privacy, rights to their health care, rights to the most personal intimate decision that they’re possibly going to have to make in their lives. And legislators and legislative officials have no reason to be in the room, that’s why I’m here."

As protestors waved their signs in the air, cars would occasionally honk in support of those gathered.

Cindy Gerlach shared her disappointment and concern about the decision.

“I really thought that the Supreme Court, that they would really not overturn 50 years of established precedent. It’s very disappointing,” said Gerlach.

“My daughter sent me the link (Monday) night. I have three daughters and I’m concerned about what this means for them.”

Not all Americans protested the possible overturning of Roe v. Wade, a decision pro-life advocates have sought to overturn since the 1973 Supreme Court decision.

“I feel like this is something I’ve been praying for forever,” Connie Wright, a Des Moines-area grandmother, told the New York Times. “And that it was answered prayer. And I just kept thanking the Lord for these innocent babies’ lives that are being saved.”

Noe Padilla is a reporter for the Journal & Courier. Email him at Npadilla@jconline.com and follow him on Twitter at 1NoePadilla.

This article originally appeared on Lafayette Journal & Courier: Scores protest possible abortion decision outside courthouse