Eugene abortion rights advocates protest Supreme Court decision in droves

What grew to a rally of about 1,000 people protesting the U.S. Supreme Court overturning Roe v. Wade started with a group of three on Friday morning after the landmark decision was announced. Strangers dropped what they were doing and went to Eugene’s federal courthouse downtown.

“I'm not going to leave today because I don't see the point of doing anything. We should be striking and walking out,” Jessica Serban, one of the early protesters, said. “There's no point doing any of this if we're not full citizens under the law.”

The decision overturns the nearly 50-year-old precedent that guaranteed constitutional protection of abortion rights and will effectively ban abortions in about half the nation. While Oregon is one of the states that has protected these rights, advocates warn residents not to feel too comfortable, as anything could change.

What happens here?:How the Supreme Court abortion ruling impacts Oregon

While some were caught off guard Friday morning, larger organizations were prepared. A draft version of the opinion leaked earlier this year had indicated the court was headed in this direction.

Oregon Right to Life, an anti-abortion organization in the state, quickly put out a statement.

“This is a historic day. A day the pro-life movement has been working toward for over 50 years,” Lois Anderson, Oregon Right to Life executive director, said in a statement. “Oregon Right to Life will continue our work to pass laws that protect unborn babies and their mothers and orient state policy toward providing life-affirming resources to families facing unsupported pregnancies.”

Planned Parenthood Advocates of Oregon assembled news conferences to share how they’ve prepared for the decision and the influx of people coming from other states for reproductive care.

Anne Udall, president and CEO of Planned Parenthood Columbia Willamette, told reporters that the organization plans to establish a clinic in Ontario, Oregon. Nearly all of the state's abortion clinics are along Interstate 5 in the western part of the state, except for one location in Bend. Neighboring Idaho is one of the states where abortion will become illegal in a post-Roe world once its "trigger law" goes into effect in 30 days.

“We believe all people should have the right to control their own body, their own life and their own future no matter where they live. Our doors are open and will stay open,” Udall said. "We will continue to work to expand access to meet the needs of our patients and Oregon and Washington.”

The Guttmacher Institute estimated the decision could lead to a 234% increase in abortions in Oregon and southwest Washington.

Sharing stories, speaking out

At the federal courthouse, the little group grew as the day went on. Some came to show solidarity with other states and some shared fears of what the future might hold.

At about 5 p.m., Planned Parenthood Advocates of Oregon hosted a “We Won’t Go Back” rally. The short event included guest speakers such as Labor Commissioner Val Hoyle, who is vying for the congressional seat left by Peter DeFazio. Members of the crowd were invited to share their stories.

Parents Kalia and John Machacek carried a sign and their young child, Melinda, as she reached around their necks, hugging them in.

Kalia told The Register-Guard she wasn’t surprised by the news but is still afraid of “what’s to come.”

“We want our daughter, when she grows up, to have a choice,” Kalia said. “Her body is her choice. We want to keep that protected and do what we can to do our part now.”

Heather Ivy held a sign that read, “My mom says ‘Hell NO!’” Nearby, her mother, Judy Ivy, indeed held a sign that read “HELL NO.”

“This should not be happening,” Heather said, tears welling as she spoke.

“We should not have to be here again,” Judy said.

Another sign suggested "Ban Viagra. Impotency is also 'God's will'."

Like Judy Ivy, several of the event’s attendees were old enough to remember when Roe V. Wade first passed. Dozens of silver-haired women held signs that said “I remember” alongside images of wire hangers, a notorious symbol of pre-Roe abortions.

“I used to have so much respect for the Supreme Court,” MB Barrlow said. “I hate to feel this disillusioned.”

Roe v. Wade was decided a year or two after she graduated college.

“It meant no more secrecy,” Barrlow said. “I never thought we would go back.”

Once the Planned Parenthood rally concluded, hundreds marched around downtown, chanting as they went, garnering applause and sometimes tears from onlooking patrons. The crowd eventually wound its way back to the courthouse.

Police and late-night protesters clash

There was another protest — billed as Night of Rage — later Friday at 11th Avenue and Ferry Street outside Dove Medical Center, an anti-abortion clinic that offers pregnancy services such as "decision coaching," according to its website.

A digital flier advertising the protest instructed participants to "bloc up," meaning to wear black clothing that would help to hide their identities, and included at the bottom the tagline "If abortions aren't safe, then they aren't either."

Dove Medical Center was vandalized last month after the leak of the U.S. Supreme Court's draft abortion decision.

The protest began at about 10 p.m. Eugene police were there in force and the situation quickly became antagonistic. Eugene police arrested 10 people between the ages of 18-29 before the protest ended, according to a news release.

Eugene police blocked the protesters from approaching Dove Medical Center, using a line of vehicles and officers. As the crowd of protesters grew and moved into the street, police issued warnings to disperse.

"Failure to comply may result in your arrest or force used against you," a Eugene officer said through a loudspeaker.

Many remained in the street and near the police line. A Eugene officer at about 11:30 p.m. warned them to move back and threatened to shoot them with a rubber bullet if they did not comply. Protesters pressed forward while shouting insults and slogans at the officers, who at about the same time made the first of the night's arrests.

Eugene police called in Springfield officers and the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, the news release said.

Officers fired pepper balls without chemicals inside them at protesters' "feet and legs," the news release said. There were reports that a Springfield officer hit a protestor with a baton while attempting to clear people from the scene.

At about 12:40 a.m., some protesters linked arms in the middle of Ferry Street as officers ordered them leave the roadway. Officers pulled some of them out of the line and arrested them, bringing them to a nearby transport van.

Officers and protesters fought during the arrests and officers fired more pepper balls at protesters.

The scene quieted down by about 1:30 a.m with most police and protesters leaving over the next half hour.

Adam Duvernay and Louis Krauss contributed to this story.

Contact reporter Tatiana Parafiniuk-Talesnick at Tatiana@registerguard.com or 541-521-7512, and follow her on Twitter @TatianaSophiaPT. Want more stories like this? Subscribe to get unlimited access and support local journalism.

This article originally appeared on Register-Guard: Eugene reacts to overturning of Roe v. Wade with protests, police clash