'Fight for your rights': Abortion rights protesters march in downtown Corpus Christi
Hundreds marched on the streets of downtown Corpus Christi on Monday to protest the Supreme Court's decision to overturn Roe v. Wade.
Protesters gathered at North Carancahua Street the morning of July 4 with pro-abortion signs and chants before marching over a mile to the federal courthouse on North Shoreline Boulevard.
It wasn't the first time 35-year-old Marilena Garzahas marched in Corpus Christi . Garza, who has participated in many local activism and protest events, describes herself as "pro-Corpus Christi."
"We knew this was going to happen," Garza said. "It was a long time coming. They're not going to stop with my right to choose."
Garza worries same-sex marriage could be in jeopardy after the reversal of Roe v. Wade. In his concurring opinion, Supreme CourtJustice Clarence Thomas recommended the high court reconsider cases allowing same-sex marriage, gay intimacy and contraceptives.
"(My partner and I) want to get married," Garza said. "We've been dating for five years and (we feel) the pressure to hurry up and go get shotgun married because that right may not be there anymore."
A small group of counter-protesters stood across the street holding anti-abortion signs.
Shawn Flanagan, a former coach for Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi, said his Independence Day plans included celebrating life. Though he didn't consider himself a protester, he and others held handmade signs with anti-abortion messages
"They're here to express their opinion and we want Corpus Christi to know that their opinion is not the majority opinion," Flanagan said.
The demonstrators stopped in front of the steps of the federal courthouse. Many passed around a megaphone, sharing their feelings, and experiences with the crowd. Others passed around signs and cold water bottles or chanted at the cars passing by.
Attorney Matt Manning took to the megaphone to encourage demonstrators to continue fighting for their rights. Manning, a former first assistant district attorney for Nueces County, practices as a personal injury and civil rights attorney.
"My 12-year-old son is here," Manning said. "The reason he's here is because my job as a father is to let him know you have to live and die for your rights. The most quintessential thing you can do as an American is fight for your rights."
Manning's message resonated with parents in the crowd. Vanessa Guzman, 23, is nine months pregnant. Despite being in the last two weeks of her pregnancy, Guzman felt it was important to get out and protest for people's right to choose.
"I think it's important that we all stand up together because there's strength in numbers," Guzman said. "I'm happy that I get to fight for myself, my baby, and now for everybody else as well."
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Ashlee Burns covers trending and breaking news in South Texas. See our subscription options and special offers at Caller.com/subscribe
This article originally appeared on Corpus Christi Caller Times: Abortion rights protestors march in downtown Corpus Christi
