These Photos Show How Abortion Protests Have Evolved Since 1973
For nearly 50 years, Americans across the country have been demonstrating for the right to have an abortion. On Jan. 22, 1973, the Supreme Court ruled that it was unconstitutional for states to ban access to abortion services. Now that Roe v. Wade has been overturned, people are once again protesting across the US.
Here’s what those protests have looked like throughout the years:
1973
Abortion rights advocates in Midtown Manhattan, where the American Medical Association was holding its annual convention on July 5, 1973.
1974
Abortion rights advocate Bill Baird leads a group in front of a statehouse to protest a proposed amendment to the US Constitution that would effectively overturn Roe v. Wade.
1975
Abortion rights protesters
1977
An abortion rights demonstrator speaks at a Boston rally against the Hyde Amendment.
1979
James Thompson (right) finds herself confronted by a large group of demonstrating women, as she enters the New Jersey State House in Trenton on June 11, 1979.
1980
An abortion rights advocate in Boston, Jan. 20, 1980
A delegate at the Democratic National Convention in New York
1982
An abortion rights advocate in Washington, DC, during an annual demonstration on the anniversary of Roe v. Wade
1985
Protesters during a San Francisco rally against President Ronald Reagan's anti-abortion agenda in 1985
1986
Abortion rights advocates during the March for Women's Lives in Washington, DC, March 9, 1986
Abortion rights advocates carry a banner on Pennsylvania Avenue in Washington, DC, during the March for Women's Lives, March 9, 1986
Abortion rights advocates on Pennsylvania Avenue during the March for Women's Lives, Washington, DC, March 9, 1986
1987
An abortion rights advocate holds up a sign at a demonstration, circa 1987.
1988
Abortion rights advocates march on New York State Route 27 in May 1988.
1989
Abortion rights advocates in Washington, DC, April 9, 1989
A crowd at an abortion rights rally in Washington, DC, regarding the possible reversal of Roe v. Wade in 1989
Abortion rights advocates during a rally in Burbank, California, on July 4, 1989
Members of Physicians for Choice take part in a March for Women's Lives in Washington, DC, on April 9, 1989.
1992
An abortion rights advocate at the March for Life in Washington, DC, on April 5, 1992
A pro–abortion rights sign is discarded in a garbage can near the US Capitol after an abortion rights march.
Demonstrators during the March for Women's Lives rally, organized by the National Organization for Women (NOW) in Washington, DC, on April 5, 1992. The march was held as a response to a then-pending US Supreme Court case (Casey v. Planned Parenthood) seen as a threat to the legal standing of Roe v. Wade.
A group of abortion rights advocates during a march in Washington, DC
A crowd of abortion rights demonstrators during a march in Washington, DC, 1992
The March for Women's Lives rally in Washington, DC, on April 5, 1992
A woman from the New York chapter of NOW holds a pro–abortion rights sign during a march in Washington, DC, in 1992.
Demonstrators in Washington DC, April 5, 1992
2000
Protesters march in the streets of downtown Philadelphia on July 30, 2000, one day before delegates to the Republican National Convention are scheduled to begin their party's nominating convention.
2001
A rally on the US Capitol steps to mark the anniversary of Roe v. Wade
2003
Abortion rights advocates hold placards and shout slogans during a candlelight vigil outside the Supreme Court during the 30th anniversary of Roe v. Wade, Jan. 22, 2003.
2004
People celebrate the 31st anniversary of Roe v. Wade, Jan. 22, 2004, in San Francisco.
Signs at an abortion rights rally outside New York City Hall in lower Manhattan
Protesters demanding "abortion without apology" gathered at Times Square's Red Steps as part of a national day of action to stop the abortion bans in June 2004.
2005
Planned Parenthood volunteers and employees in front of the Supreme Court on July 8, 2005
Abortion rights activists outside of the Basilica of St. Patrick's Old Cathedral in SoHo, New York
People protesting the nomination of John Roberts by President George W. Bush to the Supreme Court at Union Square in New York City on July 20, 2005. Abortion rights advocates were troubled that Roberts had gone on the record calling for Roe v. Wade to be overturned when he served as a lawyer for the government.
2006
An abortion rights advocate holds up a coat hanger outside the Supreme Court on Nov. 8, 2006, as the court hears oral arguments in Gonzales v. Carhart.
2007
An abortion rights advocate argues with an anti-abortion activist in front of the Supreme Court, Jan. 22, 2007.
A statewide coalition of abortion rights organizations holds a rally in 2007 on the west steps of the Colorado State Capitol in Denver to herald Senate Bill 60 (emergency contraception information for sexual assault survivors) and condemn Senate Bill 143, which would ban virtually all abortions in Colorado.
2009
An abortion rights advocate in front of Dr. George Tiller's clinic in Wichita, Kansas, on June 20, 2009
A march for abortion rights in Minneapolis, 2009
2011
Abortion rights advocates line the sidewalk outside the Dr. Emily Women's Health Center on March 12, 2011, in the Bronx.
2013
Abortion rights advocates and anti-abortion protesters rally at the Texas State Capitol in Austin as new legislation goes up for a vote on July 8, 2013. Gov. Rick Perry called on a second legislative special session to pass a restrictive abortion law through the state legislature.
2016
Abortion rights advocates outside the Supreme Court, March 2, 2016
Abortion rights advocates wait for rulings in front of the US Supreme Court on June 27, 2016.
2019
Thousands of demonstrators march in support of Planned Parenthood and against a decision that would effectively halt abortions by revoking the license of the last center in Missouri that performs the procedure, during a rally at the Old Courthouse in St. Louis, May 30, 2019.
Abortion rights advocates in St. Louis, May 30, 2019
Abortion rights advocates in St. Louis, May 30, 2019
2020
Protesters at a rally hosted by the feminist organization Women's March to oppose President Donald Trump's plan to fill Ruth Bader Ginsburg's Supreme Court seat with Amy Coney Barrett.
2021
Abortion rights advocates protest after Alabama passed the most restrictive ban in the US.
A protester holds a sign in front of the Pennsylvania State Capitol during the Rally for Reproductive Rights in 2021.
An abortion rights advocate outside the Supreme Court on Nov. 1, 2021
Abortion rights advocates in front of the Supreme Court, Dec. 1, 2021
2022
Abortion rights advocates in front of the Supreme Court, May 7, 2022, less than a week after news broke that justices planned to overturn Roe v. Wade
Abortion rights advocates gather in front of the Supreme Court, May 3, 2022.
Abortion rights advocates demonstrate in front of the Supreme Court following the Dobbs v. Jackson Women's Health Organization ruling, June 24, 2022.
Abortion rights activists Carrie McDonald and Soraya Bata react to the Dobbs v. Jackson Women's Health Organization ruling in front of the Supreme Court on June 24, 2022. The Court's decision overturned Roe v. Wade and erases a federal right to an abortion.
