Roe v. Wade protest in Mississippi: It's more than abortion. It's about protecting rights
"My body. My choice." The saying has been around for decades, but new generations of protesters are taking up the mantra and giving it a bigger purpose.
More than 100 people participated in a "Decision Day Action in Hattiesburg: We Won't Go Back" rally Saturday outside the Forrest County Courthouse in Hattiesburg.
"It's not just about abortion," said Miranda Estes, community organizer for Planned Parenthood Mississippi. "This infringement just shows that there will be more infringement. It's important for us to lift up marginalized populations in general."
Estes said the protest and others like it across the country are designed to connect people in their communities to strengthen the support network where they live.
"We're not here because we think it's going to reverse the decision that's already been made by the court," she said. "But we believe in communities and making sure people in the community know one another and support each other.
"We also hope that this is a sign to lawmakers and local politicians that this is something Hattiesburg cares deeply about."
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Mobile, Alabama, residents Emily Szabo, 19, and Ash Schatz, 18, are trying to attend every protest they can.
"Roe v. Wade is not just about abortion," Szabo said. "It's about having privacy. Roe v. Wade allowed for gay people to get married. It allowed for trans rights. It allowed for so many different things — for you to have the right to do what you want with your body."
Schatz, who is transgender, fears the overturning of Roe v. Wade has opened the doors for other legal protections to be abandoned.
"I am a trans person and I live in Alabama, and they are absolutely coming for us," Schatz said. "It's regression. This whole issue is about tyranny — our government having the capacity to completely ignore the wishes of its people, knowing what we want … despite it being deeply unpopular and deeply undemocratic."
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The protest was organized by 17-year-old Rinn Herrington, who said she wants to show people their opinions matter, even if they are too young to vote.
"If we want a different future, we're going to have to change it ourselves," she said. "I hope this brings awareness that a lot of people in Mississippi are against the overturning of Roe v. Wade. We are going to talk about it. We are going to be loud and we are not going to stop."
Roe v. Wade was overturned June 24 by the U.S. Supreme Court in considering Dobbs vs. Jackson Women's Health Organization.
"The lawsuit was filed by the Attorney General’s Office, and it was also argued in front of the Supreme Court by that Agency," said Liz Sharlot, director, Office of Communications Mississippi State Department of Health. "The only reason Dr. (Thomas) Dobbs is named is because a state can’t be sued — sovereign immunity (state) — so the name of the case is given to the executive leader who regulates the entity that is suing the state. Dr. Dobbs had nothing to do with the case beyond his name being used. Also, Dr. Dobbs is the current State Health Officer."
The Jackson Women's Health Organization, known as the Pink House, until July 7 was the state's only provider of legal abortions.
Mississippi: Activists for, against abortion react to Supreme Court's Roe v. Wade ruling
Roe v. Wade in 1973 was a landmark decision by the U.S. Supreme Court in which the court ruled that women have a right to privacy under the 14th Amendment, including the right to choose abortion.
With the overturning of Roe v. Wade, abortion laws are determined by individual states, many of which have entirely banned or heavily restricted access to abortions.
"I am asexual and don't ever want to have children," Szabo said. "If I ever did end up becoming pregnant, it would be because of a sexual assault. The thought that I couldn't have that care if I needed it is absolutely terrifying."
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This article originally appeared on Hattiesburg American: Hattiesburg protest on overturning Roe v. Wade about protecting rights
