'I will protest until my last breath': Hundreds in Des Moines march downtown for abortion rights
Jalesha Johnson of the Des Moines Black Liberation Movement turned to the crowd Wednesday evening, megaphone in hand, and asked, "When abortion access is under attack, what do we do?"
"Fight back," the crowd responded.
"I don't believe you," Johnson continued.
The crowd grew louder, and again responded: "Fight back."
A leaked draft opinion that was first reported by Politico earlier this week suggests the Supreme Court is preparing to overturn the landmark 1973 Roe v. Wade decision — which established the constitutional right to an abortion.
In response, a few hundred people marched from Cowles Commons in downtown Des Moines to the new federal courthouse under construction at Locust Street and Second Avenue to fight for reproductive rights and safe access to abortions.
More: How can Biden protect abortion if Roe v. Wade is overturned? He might need 'experimental options'
The Des Moines protest follows others across the nation that have responded to the leaked opinion draft.
"We have a right to choose," Johnson said. "We are going to show them that every step of the way, we will be resisting — even when they are building against us."
In Des Moines, protestors marched downtown streets chanting "What do we want? Abortion access. When do we want it? Always;" "Abortion bans have got to go;" and "They say no choice, we say pro-choice," along with disparaging chants against the church and the government.
Lisa Noble of Des Moines, a participant in the march, said she was angered by the leaked document.
"It's all about subjugating women to a second-class citizen — less than a man," Noble said.
"First, they come for our right to protest," Noble said, referring to laws in Iowa and beyond that enhance punishment for protest-related offenses passed following racial justice protests in 2020.
"Then, they come for our right to choose our futures — I will protest until my last breath."
Kate Bailly, another participant, said she attended the march because she has seen the need for safe and accessible abortions while working with young victims of sexual and domestic violence, especially among youth of color.
By banning abortions, Bailly said, "you're banning the safety of (Black and Indigenous people), people of color."
More: Western Iowa town passes ordinance outlawing abortion within city limits
For a little more than 30 minutes, the crowd gathered at the intersection of Locust Street and Second Avenue, next to the new federal courthouse, forming a circle.
There, organizers spoke of the importance of reproductive justice, abortion access and the historical context of Black women leading movements toward reproductive justice before opening the floor to others to speak.
Within the circle, some men spoke of solidarity within the reproductive justice movement, and more than a dozen women, transgender and nonbinary people made their voices heard.
Many spoke about experiencing rape and sexual assault. Abortion, in many cases, was necessary, they said.
Andrea Sahouri covers social justice for the Des Moines Register. She can be contacted at asahouri@registermedia.com, on Twitter @andreamsahouri, or by phone 515-284-8247.
This article originally appeared on Des Moines Register: Hundreds in Des Moines protest, march downtown for abortion rights
