Warren speaks at abortion rights protest after Roe v. Wade draft leak: 'Angry, but committed'

Protests erupted across the country Tuesday as abortion rights advocates expressed devastation and outrage about the potential Supreme Court decision to overturn Roe v. Wade. And, among demonstrators on the steps of the nation's highest court, Sen. Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass., gave an impassioned speech.

"I am angry," said Warren, as members of the crowd cheered. "I am here because I am angry, and I am here because the United States Congress can change all of this. Angry, but committed. … Understand this: I have seen the world where abortion is illegal, and we are not going back."

On Monday night, Politico published a draft opinion, written by Associate Justice Samuel Alito and supported by a majority of justices, overturning the landmark 1973 ruling that established a constitutional right to abortion. The court later verified on Tuesday the leaked draft was authentic.

Abortion bill in Senate: Democrats push abortion vote after leaked SCOTUS draft threatens Roe

The court's opinion was not expected until the final day of its term, in June or July, and it's unclear if the leak will impact that timeline. While the decision is still not final, Monday's revelation increased fears about an incoming end to Roe – something abortion rights activists have long-warned was possible with the court's conservative majority.

Overturning Roe would impact at least 25 million menstruating people, advocates say. 22 states have bans or could ban abortion if Roe is overturned, according to Guttmacher Institute. And without federal protections, others may follow. Meanwhile, 16 states and the District of Columbia have laws that protect the right to abortion.

What happens if Roe v. Wade is overturned? What we know about Supreme Court's leaked draft

On Tuesday, Warren stressed that the consequences would exacerbate inequities.

"I am angry because of who will pay the price for this. It will not be wealthy women,” she said. “This will fall on the poorest women in our country. This will fall on the young women who have been abused, who are victims of incest. This will fall on those who have been raped. This will fall on mothers who are already struggling to work three jobs, to be able to support their children they have.”

'It's a really scary time': Abortion rights protesters rally across US after Supreme Court draft leak

Abortion-rights activists also say that banning abortion will hurt people of color, who have the highest rates of abortion in nation, and poor Americans the hardest. Advocates also underline that some may instead turn to unsafe and illegal abortions, raising the risk of death for pregnant people.

"It won't stop people from getting abortions – it will stop people from getting safe abortions,” Dr. Stella Safo, a New York-based primary care physician and founder of Just Equity for Health, previously told USA TODAY. “All the people who are minoritized historically in this country, and who are poor – it’s low-income women who are going to suffer the most from this and it's absolutely maddening."

Warren also called the Supreme Court "extremist" Tuesday and said, "we have reached the culmination of what Republicans have been fighting for, angling for decades now."

A smaller group of anti-abortion demonstrators also gathered in support of abortion bans on Tuesday. In a separate statement, Craig DeRoche, president and CEO of Family Policy Alliance, a conservative Christian lobbying group based in Colorado, called the news "the moment the pro-life movement has been waiting for."

More: Conservatives spent decades pushing to upend Roe v. Wade. And it's 'only the beginning'

The Massachusetts senator's words at the Supreme Court steps gained attention on social media – with others sharing their outrage about the potential Supreme Court decision to overturn Roe.

"Please watch this video. @ewarren is channeling the rage we are all feeling right now," New York public defender and "Survivor" contestant Eliza Orlins wrote on Twitter.

Journalist Molly Jong-Fast retweeted another video, where Warren answers questions from reporters, writing, "A lot of women who fought for reproductive rights feel this way and they're entitled to."

Live updates: Fallout swells over leaked Supreme Court draft threatening Roe v. Wade; more protests expected

Contributing: Trevor Hughes, Christine Fernando, USA TODAY.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Elizabeth Warren 'angry' over Supreme Court abortion Roe v. Wade leak