Crowds gathered outside the U.S. Supreme Court building awaiting today’s decision – which resulted in a startling reversal of federal law, the repeal of Roe v. Wade and the end of the constitutional right to abortion — quickly became anger, protest, and in some cases. to the celebration.
Dominated by the voices of anger and dissent, young and old came together with handmade signs and chanting slogans of protest and defiance.
“This has been a struggle for 30 years to nullify the fundamental rights of women and people to make decisions about their bodies. There is no going back from that. There is no other answer than outrage and action, ”said Sara Kugler of Washington DC, who was standing in front of the court building.
“It simply came to our notice then. Abortions will still occur. God forgive them because they don’t know what they’re doing, ”said another Washington area resident, who asked you to use her first name, Cathy.
“They are further dividing our country. They really are. They are making it more complicated. I could have solved it and stopped it with this religious push. And that religious push from presidents like Trump who aren’t even qualified to lead us, is horrible, ”he added.
A group of lawmakers was seen leaving the Supreme Court building shortly after the news of the decision was announced, minutes after 10 p.m. They walked behind steel-clad barriers with members of the U.S. Capitol police and members of the heavily armored riot squad, who separated them from protesters. Some protesters called on lawmakers to continue fighting, others called them “baby killers” and shouted that they had “blood on their hands.”
“I don’t care what today’s vote is. They can’t stop us. They can’t control our lives. We will do everything we can, we will continue to organize,” said Rep. Maxine Waters, a California Democrat who he stopped to talk to the Guardian as he walked in front of the Supreme Court building.
When asked what he thought of doing the part in favor of the election in reaction to the court’s decision, he said, “We’ll have a big women’s vote. Let’s see if we can get something on the ballot soon. We’ll do everything what we can do “.
Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, the progressive congresswoman from New York, was among the crowd. He called for people to “fill the streets.”
The specific abortion ruling means the Dobbs v Jackson Women’s Health Organization case is upheld by the court. The case was seen as a specific law to challenge Roe. The court ruling also means abortion will be illegal in half of the U.S. now or in the near future, as many other states reflect the Mississippi restriction. Thirteen states already have laws that make abortion illegal now that Roe v Wade has been overturned.
“Forced birth is slavery,” Joseph Little said, holding up a poster with the same words as he stood near a large crowd of pro-election protesters.
“When you take away people’s rights and tell them that their choice no longer matters in this country that is supposed to be the land of the free, you are oppressing them,” Little said.
“The courts today have ruled against the majority of this country. They decided to take this with their own hands and be our oppressors, ”he added.