Utica protestors march against possible Roe v. Wade repeal as part of rallies nationwide

Hundreds of protestors marched through downtown Utica on Saturday in a rally against the potential repeal of Roe v. Wade by the United States Supreme Court.

It was one of more than 380 protests and rallies across the country protesting the possible overturn of the 1973 Supreme Court decision that established a constitutional right to abortion. A repeal would largely turn abortion over to individual states, about half of which are expected to ban or place severe limitations on the procedure.

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"We've been fighting the fight since the '60s, the '70s," protestor and organizer Crystal Faria said, later adding, "Yeah, it's exhausting. But you can either do what's right or what's easy."

Faria attended the first of a series of protests on Mother's Day before helping organize Saturday's event. It's something she's passionate about, she said, noting a possible overturn of Roe v. Wade could consequently impact issues ranging from in vitro fertilization to interracial marriage.

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New York is among 16 states that have previously enacted state laws that strengthened abortion rights, and on Tuesday Gov. Kathy Hochul said the state would launch a new $25 million fund to support abortion providers in the state, while spending another $10 million on security efforts at abortion centers.

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Jill Farnham-Us, an organizer of Saturday's protest and a steering committee member with Indivisible Mohawk-Valley, said the protest was organized in part to make those who feel threatened by the potential overturn feel safe. She added that the protest is about bodily autonomy as a whole — objecting to abortion bans as well as forced sterilization.

"We want people to know that it really is their choice," Farnham-Us said.

Around 250 people attended the march and the subsequent rally organized by groups like Indivisible Mohawk Valley, Planned Parenthood, the Unitarian Universalist Church of Utica and Temple Emanu-El in Utica, organizers said. Protestors gathered outside the offices of the YWCA Mohawk Valley and marched to Nurses Candlelight Park.

Across the street, about two dozen people gathered to counter-protest, including members from Life Matters Training Center in Canastota, Utica City Church, Ilion Community Church and Beit Shalom in Utica.

Julie Rosati, of Life Matters Training Center, said their organization's work wouldn't be over following an overturn of Roe v. Wade, noting abortion bans would then be left to the states. The organization offers counseling to pregnant woman and encourages options such as adoption and foster care, she said.

"I truly believe in God's plan," she said, adding of abortion, "It's not a God-given right."

H. Rose Schneider covers public safety, breaking and trending news for the Observer-Dispatch. Email Rose at hschneider@gannett.com.

This article originally appeared on Observer-Dispatch: Roe v. Wade: Utica protestors march for abortion rights