Protestors gathered outside state buildings after Supreme Court struck down Roe v. Wade
Around 50 protestors showed up to the statehouse on Friday after the Supreme Court’s decision to strike down Roe v. Wade—outlawing legal abortion in Alabama and other states. On Sunday, over 150 people gathered in front of the Alabama Department of Archives and History before marching to the state capitol steps.
Protestor Travis Jackson led chants for the crowd: “Whose streets?”
“Our streets!”
“Whose healthcare?”
“Our healthcare!”
Mia Raven from P.O.W.E.R. House, an acronym for People Organizing for Women’s Empowerment & Rights, informed the crowd that the organization was not giving up.
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Raven said abortion is not going anywhere, before the protest officially started on Friday.
“And we want to let people know that if you need that kind of care we will help you get it in any way can,” she said.
She repeated similar sentiments on Sunday, wearing a coat-hanger necklace. She said that she still wears the necklace because it's sentimental but now there are abortion pills.
Supreme Court: Roe v. Wade decision ends legal abortion services in Alabama
"So, that's one thing we have post-Roe we didn't have pre-Roe," she said.
Protestors Jeri Harrison and Lisa Taylor drove into Montgomery on Friday. They said that the “pro-life” movement is actually “anti-choice.”
“It is not a pro-life movement,” said Harrison. “If it was pro-life, they would be doing things on the southern border, capital punishment, biracial children, in particular, who aren’t getting adopted in foster care. They are anti-choice. We need to stop calling that movement pro-life.”
Meta Ellis, director of Montgomery Pride United, reflected on fighting for abortion rights, again.
"It's disgusting, I'm outraged, but I'm not surprised," Ellis said.
After the speakers concluded, the protestors lined the sidewalk in front of the state house, continuing their chants.
Multiple cars honked in seeming support of the signs.
Jemma Stephenson is the children and education reporter for the Montgomery Advertiser. She can be reached at jstephenson@gannett.com or 334-261-1569.
This article originally appeared on Montgomery Advertiser: Abortion rights protest gathers in Montgomery over the weekend
