Roe v. Wade protests: Hundreds rally to defend abortion rights across Philadelphia
PHILADELPHIA - Major protests broke out in Philadelphia Saturday, a day after the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade in a landmark ruling.
Signs in hand, hundreds chanted as they gathered with the National Constitution Center as their backdrop. One large banner reading, "Keep Abortion Safe, Legal & Accessible."
Pennsylvania Attorney General Josh Shapiro hosted the rally "to defend Pennsylvanians’ freedom, safeguard reproductive rights and keep abortion legal in Pennsylvania." The Democratic candidate for Pennsylvania Governor was joined by several local, state and federal leaders.
"I will not let our daughters grow up in a world where they have fewer rights than their mothers and grandmothers had in Pennsylvania," Shapiro said in reaction to the ruling.
Hours later, hundreds of people were out at City Hall with a clear message. They aren’t happy about the Supreme Court’s overturning of Roe vs. Wade and they want their voices heard.
"I was like, I can’t just stand by and let this happen. Tight now, reproductive rights should be universal and national," stated organizer Caila Schreiber.
Protestors at City Hall expressed feelings of anger, disappointment and disbelief after the historic decision to overturn Roe vs. Wade.
"Disappointed in a country that it’s come to this. Scared for myself and future generations on what’s going to happen," Veronica Posada said.
"I don’t think anybody that can’t have a pregnancy or doesn’t have a uterus should be making those decisions. Nobody knows how that feels as a woman or someone who identifies as a woman," April Gibala added.
"If they can actually change this, they can change a lot of other things. We want to go forwards, not backwards," Marvin Holmes remarked.
"I support getting a vasectomy myself, because, let’s be honest here, my wife is doing the hard part carrying my son. I can do my part. Getting a vasectomy, it’s not that hard," Michael McLaughlin stated.
Bridget McLaughling added, "Had it not been for the medication to support abortion, in general, my sister would have died twice already. She’s already had two ectopic pregnancies, which is absolutely appalling."
On Friday, a massive protest broke out in Philadelphia just hours after the Roe v. Wade reversal was announced. Protesters marched through the streets of Philadelphia, from City Hall to towards Independence Hall and the Liberty Bell.
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Even after the Supreme Court ruling, abortions remain legal in Pennsylvania, New Jersey and Delaware. In New Jersey and Delaware, the right to an abortion is enshrined by the state's constitution or legislature.