After Roe v. Wade overturned, hundreds protest for abortion access at Ohio Statehouse

An estimated 1,000 people gathered outside the Ohio Statehouse Friday night to protest the overturning of Roe v. Wade, which protected abortion access in the United States.

The protest started at 6 p.m. at the Statehouse. Organizers include the Party for Socialism and Liberation Columbus. More than 500 people expressed interest just hours before the event, some of them venting online about the rollback in abortion access.

Jun 23, 2022; Columbus, Ohio, USA;  Emily Corbin holds up a sign during a rally at the Ohio Statehouse following the overturning of Roe v Wade by SCOTUS. Mandatory Credit: Brooke LaValley-The Columbus Dispatch
Jun 23, 2022; Columbus, Ohio, USA; Emily Corbin holds up a sign during a rally at the Ohio Statehouse following the overturning of Roe v Wade by SCOTUS. Mandatory Credit: Brooke LaValley-The Columbus Dispatch

Another group, the Women's March, also sent out details for a protest at the Statehouse at the same time.

As of 6:05 p.m., a sizable and growing group had formed in front of the Statehouse at the edge of High Street, as cars drove by. Some drivers honked, eliciting cheers among the crowd.

A variety of chants were shouted. "Bans off our bodies!" "Separate church and state!" "Abortion is health care!" "Fund abortion!"

Seemingly absent from the event were anti-abortion groups.

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A few minutes into the event, the abortion-rights supporters began marching toward the Statehouse columns with state troopers watching over the procession. Signs were held, including some with expletives aimed at Republican lawmakers.

Cindy Krebs, 54, of Columbus, holds a sign at the intersection of Broad and High streets as hundreds of people rallied at the Ohio Statehouse and marched in support of abortion after the Supreme Court overturned Roe vs. Wade Friday.
Cindy Krebs, 54, of Columbus, holds a sign at the intersection of Broad and High streets as hundreds of people rallied at the Ohio Statehouse and marched in support of abortion after the Supreme Court overturned Roe vs. Wade Friday.

Speakers spoke in front of the columns before the march. They talked about the need to express solidarity with each other and criticized the state legislature for not giving adequate help to lower-income women. They explained why banning abortions was bad and highlighted the urgency to help those needing "reproductive health care" before bans are put in place.

"Banning legal abortions only bans safe abortions," said Alana Belle, deputy director of the Ohio Women's Alliance. "We must love and support each other. We have nothing to lose but our chains." 

Protesters marched down Broad Street, alongside the Scioto River in front of the Ohio Supreme Court, before circling back onto High Street, back to the Statehouse, where some choice words were directed at Gov. DeWine. They marched around the Statehouse as well.

One of the protesters there was Carol Garrabrant, 68, of Columbus. She said she protested in the 1960s and '70s before Roe, and now she's back with her daughter.

Jun 24, 2022; Columbus, OH, USA;  Carol Garrabrant, holds a sign that says " I fought for reproductive right in the 60's and 70's, and now I have to fight again in my 60's and 70's" during an abortion rights protest at the Ohio State House, after the Supreme Court decision to overturn Roe v Wade. She became emotional when talking about what this means for her grandchildren.

"No matter how bad it gets, just keep trying and keep making your voice heard," she said with tears.

Zoe Benedict, 29, took aim at the U.S. Supreme Court and advocates against abortion. She criticized what she perceived to be a lack of separation between church and state. She didn't understand how politicians who identified as "pro-life" could not restrict access to guns.

"An AR-15 can slaughter a million people every (expletive) day, so how pro-life are you?" she said angrily.

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Jun 24, 2022; Columbus, OH, USA;  Zoe Benedict, 29, of the Short North, protests during an abortion rights rally at the Ohio State House, after the Supreme Court decision to overturn Roe v Wade.
Jun 24, 2022; Columbus, OH, USA; Zoe Benedict, 29, of the Short North, protests during an abortion rights rally at the Ohio State House, after the Supreme Court decision to overturn Roe v Wade.

As of 8:19 p.m., the protest remained peaceful. "Observers" were around to keep watch of the police presence, which mostly blocked streets and directed traffic around the protest's path.

A smaller group broke out afterward and marched up High Street and back before dispersing around 11 p.m. Nothing happened beyond minor arguments between drivers and those protesting.

There were some people registering individuals to vote as well as a campaign or two trying to spread awareness about their candidates.

Abortion access in Ohio

The protest comes after the U.S. Supreme Court released its decision to overturn Roe. v. Wade. The decision to allow abortion access is now in the hands of state lawmakers across the country.

In 2019, Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine signed the "heartbeat bill" into law. The law bans abortion procedures after a fetal heartbeat is detected – around six weeks into pregnancy.

Hundreds of people rallied at the Ohio Statehouse and marched through Downtown Columbus in support of abortion after the Supreme Court overturned Roe vs. Wade Friday.
Hundreds of people rallied at the Ohio Statehouse and marched through Downtown Columbus in support of abortion after the Supreme Court overturned Roe vs. Wade Friday.

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The law was blocked by a federal judge who believed it would put "undue burden" on women and pregnant people. It was put on hold.

On Friday, Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost filed a motion to lift the stay after Roe was overturned. Later in the evening it was granted, and the six-week ban is now in effect.

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Jun 24, 2022; Columbus, Ohio, USA;  Mahonale Waters, R, and Ed "The Poet" walk together during a rally at the Ohio Statehouse following the overturning of Roe v Wade by SCOTUS. Mandatory Credit: Brooke LaValley-The Columbus Dispatch
Jun 24, 2022; Columbus, Ohio, USA; Mahonale Waters, R, and Ed "The Poet" walk together during a rally at the Ohio Statehouse following the overturning of Roe v Wade by SCOTUS. Mandatory Credit: Brooke LaValley-The Columbus Dispatch

DeWine has indicated he plans to go further than the heartbeat bill by signing a full ban on abortion in the near future. The Ohio House and Senate both have Republican majorities that have indicated they will support a full ban.

State lawmakers are on break for the summer and aren't likely to return until September or later. If a bill banning the procedure is signed into law, it likely won't take effect until 2023.

Abby Bammerlin and Titus Wu are reporters for the USA TODAY Network Ohio Bureau, which serves the Akron Beacon Journal, Cincinnati Enquirer, Columbus Dispatch and 18 other affiliated news organizations across Ohio.

This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Abortion rights protesters march at Ohio's Statehouse on Friday