A strong crowd of 500 abortionists marched in central Wellington and launched a national protest against the US Supreme Court’s decision to overturn the controversial Roe v. Wade Act.
Last week’s ruling ended the country’s constitutional protection against abortion nearly 50 years later, allowing the state to set its own legislation on the procedure.
More than half of all 50 states in the United States have already completely banned or are trying to introduce anti-abortion legislation. This affects millions of women.
Before marching on Willis Street and Rambutonkey to the U.S. Embassy in Thorndon, there was a cry of “my body, my choice” that protesters (some 13 years old) would fill the Civic Square. ..
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Organizer Madeleine Petersen-Gould said the protest was to show solidarity with people with an American womb. It was to “make noise” and let others know that it was an important issue.
Kevin Stent / Staff
A march in a stand-up rally for reproductive freedom in central Wellington.
Claudia Colville, 23, said she participated in protests to stand up for herself and human rights.
“Everyone deserves a choice about their body,” she said. “You can only ban safe abortions.”
Healthcare worker Summer O’Dwyer said she was “broken heart” when the decision was made because many people lose their right to medical care. She also wanted the protest to send a message to New Zealand MPs.
Kevin Stent
Odwyer in the summer on the right was “broken heart” when he learned of the news of the US Supreme Court’s decision. Also photo: Ethan Morrison, left, Elizabeth Hodgson.
“Currently, many political parties have very loud members who oppose abortion and have voted against abortion in the past,” she said.
“That’s why it’s so important to show that we exercise our right to protest and strongly believe in our right to abortion as New Zealanders.”
Despite being a middle-aged man, Lis Morgan said he believed the cause was worth supporting.
“Decision [Roe v Wade] Inappropriate, “he said. “We need to tell the United States that women are also people.”
Some Americans were angry and wary of the direction in which Washington courts were taking the country.
Kevin Stent / Staff
The Supreme Court’s ruling, which ended the country’s constitutional protection against abortion almost 50 years later, allows the state to set its own law in the procedure.
Chantal Claret is from New York and lived in Los Angeles before moving to New Zealand. She had an abortion – a procedure she was not ashamed of. For her, her court ruling was upset, but she wasn’t unexpected.
“To deprive a woman of her right to choose is to deprive her of all her power,” she said. “I quickly realized that this was on the card. [former US President Donald] Trump was elected. “
Nicole Inskipe, an African-American from Charlottesville, Virginia, was worried about the impact of the ruling on women of color.
“I’m really worried that the crackdown on women’s bodies and the laws that prevent them from taking ownership of their bodies aren’t considered serious issues,” she said.
Other rallies in support of the right to abortion will take place on Saturday afternoons in Auckland and Napier.