Roe v. Wade protests in Manhattan: Marchers go from Union Square to Washington Square Park
NEW YORK — Thousands of protesters rallied Friday afternoon at Union Square and Washington Square Park in Manhattan Friday in opposition to the Supreme Court decision reversing Roe v. Wade, which for almost half a century had granted people a federal constitutional right to abortion.
Those rallying marched several blocks south to Washington Square Park where they continued to rally while holding signs saying “ABORTION = SELF DEFENSE” and “NO FORCED BIRTH.”
Marianna Bond was one of several speakers who addressed the crowd who gathered at the south end of the Lower Manhattan park.
Bond, speaking through tears, said the decision will be the beginning of other legal rollbacks that affect women’s bodies.
“We demand the right to feel safe in our own bodies. We demand to make choices based on our personal and best interest,” Bond said.
Veteran activist Carl Dix told the audience what was needed to fight back decisions like the one in the Supreme Court was “determined, ongoing resistance” and go out in the streets, which they did a few minutes later, heading west on 14th street and south on Fifth avenue
In attendance for the rally was Brooklyn resident Mahayana Landowne, who stood silently dressed as blindfolded Lady Justice with red paint on her hands to symbolize blood.
“I feel the Supreme Court has blood on their hands for their actions yesterday and today, for easing the gun laws and for denying women the right to choose what they want to do with their bodies," she said.
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The protesters closed streets as they walked along 14th Street and down Fifth Avenue to Washington Square Park, chanting: "We will rise up” and “Abortion is a human right.”
The rally in Washington Square Park lasted over an hour before protesters marched out and went uptown.
At 9:52, the march that left Washington Square Park over an hour and half ago made its way around much of Manhattan.
They went uptown back toward Union Square Park, then past the park to Park Avenue. The march began more energized as they went Park Avenue in the northbound lane then after a few blocks, it was both northbound and southbound lanes.
A group of marchers were carrying a giant white cloth banner marked by words and drawings of opposition.
One of the carriers was Leslie Peterson, 25, of New York City. Peterson, an administrative assistant, said she proud to help carry the banner and take part in the march.
"I am doing this for future generations because they deserve every right," Peterson said. "I hope marches like these bring national attention and I hope the Supreme Court realizes they are idiots."
Then, the march went past Grand Central Station until 48th Street where they turned west toward Broadway and the Theater District and then south until ending in Bryant Park.
Some marchers stepped away from the larger march to view an American flag set on fire by New York City resident Luis DeJesus on the corner of 46th Street and Park Avenue.
DeJesus, 39, said he burned the flag in protest of the Supreme Court because the "United States does not represent us as a whole any more."
He said the Supreme Court were the same people to "take away people's human right."
The end rally in Bryant Park, which began around 10;20 p.m., saw various speakers call for future protests over the decision in the coming days.
This article originally appeared on Rockland/Westchester Journal News: Roe v. Wade Supreme Court ruling causes protest in New York City
