In Springfield, sadness and celebration in reaction to Supreme Court's abortion decision

Expressions of sadness and celebration dominated Friday as Springfield residents reacted to the U.S. Supreme Court's historic reversal of the landmark 1973 Roe vs. Wade decision.

The high court's ruling allows states to outlaw abortion and is expected to lead to abortion bans among half the states.

Cindy Cantwell, standing outside the Planned Parenthood ofice in Springfield, said the decision moves women's rights  backwards. The 62-year-old said she's fought on the front lines for women since the age of 14 and was disappointed with the turn of events.

“In 1974 I was out in Indiana fighting for the Equal Rights Act and Roe v Wade had just passed so it looked like women were finally on the roll and we were gonna finally be equals," who has lived in Springfield about 20 years. "Now, It feels like we’re going backwards, way backwards.”

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Cantwell said the decision could play a role in an uproot of violence against women. She said it all comes down to a battle of power.

"I just feel like a lot of this is because women are making so many strides and old white men are scared to death and have nowhere to turn but to put women back in their place," she said.

Annette McDermott, a supporter of Illinois Right to Life, said she was not surprised by the decision. Though she understands some women go to abortion clinics in crisis, she plans to continue making them aware of what options they have and why to choose life.

"Once they’re holding that baby or they choose to place that baby up for adoption, it may be tough in the beginning but in the long run they won't be suffering psychologically or emotionally or mentally," McDermott said. "When they’re leaving Planned Parenthood on surgical abortion day they’re not coming out of having a colonoscopy, they’ve just stopped the beating heart of their baby. It's emotional and stays with them forever so we’re here to help them and give them other options...  We’ll continue in the fight to save as many babies as we can."

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McDermott's husband, Dr. James McDermott, added he thinks the decision allows  both sides to express themselves on the issue.

“The nice thing about this is that it puts things back in the hands of legislation where people will have to have an honest conversation about what is taking place in a woman's body and when," said McDermott, a Springfield dentist.  "On an issue like this, it's complicated and emotional so it needs to be fleshed out, otherwise that's why there’s been such an open wound in our country all these years, because neither side has been allowed to express themselves.”

In 2019, Illinois lawmakers passed the sweeping Reproductive Health Act which, among other things, makes abortion access a “fundamental right” in state law.

Lawmakers passed a bill during last year’s veto session, repealing the state’s Parental Notice of Abortion law, removing the last legal restriction on abortion in Illinois.

Friday’s Supreme Court decision will have no effect on those laws. In fact, Justice Brett Kavanaugh, in a concurring opinion, specifically pointed to Illinois and other states as being unaffected by the decision.

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Keri Tate, co-founder of Resistor Sisterhood said while the high court's decision was disappointing, local organizations are working to put systems in place for women to gain access to services even if it requires extended childcare or travel.

"Those systems are being created right now so just hold on and know that people are supporting your rights and while your rights where you live may not exist anymore they will be available in other locations. We’re not gonna stop fighting this, this is wrong. We’re not going back to this and won’t rest until it's changed."

Tate said the decision reemphasizes the need to vote now more than ever. She said though Illinois may seem safe from restrictions it's important to not let up on participating in elections to ensure the state stays that way.

"While we don’t get to control the Supreme Court through our vote, we do control who puts them in that position and their accountability. I think it's important Illinois not rest, I hear a lot of people saying 'it's still legal in Illinois, we’re safe,' we’re safe now because we’ve elected leaders who understand but if we let down, and don’t continue to support our beliefs with our vote we may lose that as well. It's critically important that even in Illinois, in a state seen as safe, we continue to turnout and vote to create the world we want to live in."

Capitol News Illinois contributed to this report.

This article originally appeared on State Journal-Register: Springfield residents react to U.S. Supreme Court abortion decision