Protest draws largest Lafayette crowd since overturning of Roe v. Wade

LAFAYETTE, Ind. — Wednesday evening saw the largest gathering of protesters in front of the Tippecanoe County Courthouse since the overturning of Roe v. Wade last Friday.

Around 400 people showed up to demonstrate against the Supreme Court’s decision. Some 150 people gathered on the night of June 24, when the ruling was announced.

The energy outside of the courthouse was different from the previous rallies as the chants of the protesters could be heard from almost a block away. With almost every street light rotation, motorists blasted their car horns in support.

One protester drove around the courthouse nearly 20 times, encouraging the crowd to chant louder and with more vigor.

More: Anti-abortion advocates celebrate in Lafayette the end of Roe v. Wade

Along with the motorists, Purdue University’s locomotive mascot, Boilermaker Special, drove passed the courthouse blaring its horn.

A competition seemingly grew to see who could be louder, the protesters or the vehicles.

“Which life is it,” “My body, my choice,” and  “Abort the court” were a few of the chants that could be heard coming from the crowd of protestors.

"First I wanted to start off by saying, abortion is healthcare," said Lauren Murfree, a graduate student at Purdue University, "and a rejection of such basic care for those who need it is violence. Action against one is action against us all and we must all speak up and push back against the continued degradation of our basic human rights."

"In recent years, they've placed an undue burden on those seeking abortions with mandatory waiting period, intrusive ultrasounds and other restrictive policies. Even preventing unintended pregnancies is clearly not a priority of the state."

Murfree said she doesn't agree with her representative back home in Indiana's 25th District.

"With even my own Rep. (Donald) Lehe, calling for a total ban on abortion health care. I personally have had numerous surgeries that place me at a higher risk of death in the instance of a pregnancy," the student said. "While my fears might just be dismissed by those who are celebrating the current overturning of basic human rights of body autonomy."

Earlier on Wednesday, Indiana lawmakers announced that they would be pushing back the planned special session – addressing abortion and taxpayer refunds – from July 6 to July 25.

Indiana state Rep. Chris Campbell (D-West Lafayette) marked her third rally since the Supreme Court decision, telling the Journal & Courier she was happy to see the passionate demonstration from the Greater Lafayette community.

“I think that every day that passes, the more people are aware, the more people are getting angry, the more they are starting to gather. We’ve had a lot of people reach out to us and wanting to get involved and finding out what they could do,” said Campbell.

“I think the fact that the special session got moved, I’m hopeful that that’s a good sign that their messages are getting through, but I would still encourage them to still reach out, contact their legislators, and not to let up.”

Perhaps one of the oldest protesters in the crowd on Wednesday, Jim Whiteford, 72, understood Campbell's sentiment of not letting up.

Whiteford remembered protesting as a young man for women to have the right to an abortion. So, when he heard about the Supreme Court’s decision to overturn Roe v. Wade, he knew he had to get his walker out and start protesting as he did decades ago.

More: Leaders representing Lafayette area react to Roe v. Wade, abortion ruling

“I think it was terrible," Whiteford said. "That was a terrible decision about that.”

“I don’t like this at all. I think we should be saving lives not destroying them. That’s why I’m out here right now, I was against it the first time too. I will protest it like I did then.”

Although Whiteford was just one person in the sea of people, he said he found himself feeling hopeful for the future of Indiana.

“I am proud of that crowd. So that might do some good, or at least I hope.”

“For the future I’m hopeful. I hope they get voted out or something because they are ruining it. But I do look for the future and I think it’s going to happen.”

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: Roe v. Wade overturned: Protest draws largest crowd in Lafayette