Thousands marched in cities across the United States on Saturday to protest the Supreme Court's overturning of the federal right to abortion and to urge voters to turn out in a Democratic "blue wave" in next month's key midterm elections.
Thousands in US demonstrate for abortion rights as midterm elections approach
© Amanda Andrade-Rhoades, Reuters
In Washington, a crowd of mostly women chanted "We won't go back" as they marched.
They carried posters calling for a "feminist tsunami" and urging people to "vote to save women's rights."
"I don't want to have to go back to a different time," Emily Bobal, an 18-year-old student, told AFP.
"It's kind of ridiculous that we still have to do this in 2022," she said, adding that she is concerned that the conservative-dominated high court might next target same-sex marriage.
"The majority of us are ready to get out and fight for democracy and fight for people's bodily autonomy, women and men," said Kimberly Allen, 70.
With Democrats battling to maintain their narrow control of Congress, the midterm elections could have a decisive impact on the future of such rights, she said.
Several marchers wore armbands or scarves of green, a color symbolizing abortion rights.
Others wore blue -- the color of the Democratic Party -- and carried huge flags and banners calling for a symbolic "blue wave" of voters to go to the polls on November 8.
A few counter-protesters made their presence known, some of them urging the crowd to "find Jesus Christ," while others shouted that "abortion is murder." They were met with boos.
Similar rallies took place in cities including New York and Denver, Colorado.
"The #WomensWave is coming for EVERY anti-abortion politician, no matter where they live," Rachel O'Leary Carmona, executive director of the nonprofit Women's March organization, said on Twitter.
She urged people to elect "more women" as well as male candidates who support abortion rights.
Polls show Democrats only have a slim possibility of maintaining control of the House of Representatives, but their chances are better in the evenly-divided Senate, where Democratic Vice President Kamala Harris is the tie-breaking vote.
While Republicans have been campaigning largely on soaring prices, immigration concerns and urban crime, Democrats led by President Joe Biden want to shift the debate to abortion rights and the defense of American democracy.
The Supreme Court in June ended the decades-long federal protection of abortion rights, leaving it to individual states to set their own rules.
Since then, several Republican-led states have banned or severely curtailed access to the procedure, provoking a series of legal challenges.
In the latest development, an appeals court in the southwestern state of Arizona on Friday blocked -- at least for now -- a near-total ban on abortions.
(AFP)
In Washington, a crowd of mostly women chanted "We won't go back" as they marched.
They carried posters calling for a "feminist tsunami" and urging people to "vote to save women's rights."
"I don't want to have to go back to a different time," Emily Bobal, an 18-year-old student, told AFP.
"It's kind of ridiculous that we still have to do this in 2022," she said, adding that she is concerned that the conservative-dominated high court might next target same-sex marriage.
"The majority of us are ready to get out and fight for democracy and fight for people's bodily autonomy, women and men," said Kimberly Allen, 70.
With Democrats battling to maintain their narrow control of Congress, the midterm elections could have a decisive impact on the future of such rights, she said.
Related video: Abortion and the November election
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Several marchers wore armbands or scarves of green, a color symbolizing abortion rights.
Others wore blue -- the color of the Democratic Party -- and carried huge flags and banners calling for a symbolic "blue wave" of voters to go to the polls on November 8.
A few counter-protesters made their presence known, some of them urging the crowd to "find Jesus Christ," while others shouted that "abortion is murder." They were met with boos.
Similar rallies took place in cities including New York and Denver, Colorado.
"The #WomensWave is coming for EVERY anti-abortion politician, no matter where they live," Rachel O'Leary Carmona, executive director of the nonprofit Women's March organization, said on Twitter.
She urged people to elect "more women" as well as male candidates who support abortion rights.
Polls show Democrats only have a slim possibility of maintaining control of the House of Representatives, but their chances are better in the evenly-divided Senate, where Democratic Vice President Kamala Harris is the tie-breaking vote.
While Republicans have been campaigning largely on soaring prices, immigration concerns and urban crime, Democrats led by President Joe Biden want to shift the debate to abortion rights and the defense of American democracy.
The Supreme Court in June ended the decades-long federal protection of abortion rights, leaving it to individual states to set their own rules.
Since then, several Republican-led states have banned or severely curtailed access to the procedure, provoking a series of legal challenges.
In the latest development, an appeals court in the southwestern state of Arizona on Friday blocked -- at least for now -- a near-total ban on abortions.
(AFP)
Abortion Rights Protesters Turn Out Ahead Of 'Roevember' Midterm Elections
See photos from the nationwide demonstrations.
By Sara Boboltz
Oct 8, 2022,
A "VOTE" sign appears outside the U.S. Capitol.
SHANNON FINNEY VIA GETTY IMAGES
With exactly one month until the 2022 midterm elections, supporters of abortion rights turned out Saturday in places across the country to highlight the gravity of the issues at stake.
Control over the Senate and the House, both currently in the hands of Democrats, is considered to be up for grabs ― and with it, the future of reproductive health care in America.
Republican lawmakers have been taking increasingly tough stances against abortion in the wake of the Supreme Court’s decision to overturn Roe v. Wade this summer. This 1973 ruling made abortion legal nationwide. Some states, such as Texas and Oklahoma, now do not even allow abortion in cases of rape or incest; exceptions to their abortion bans can only be made in very limited circumstances to save the pregnant patient’s life. Criminal penalties in certain states mean that medical practitioners might be risking their freedom and livelihood if they perform an abortion in a case that does not conform to lawmakers’ restrictions.
What’s more, a conservative movement is underway to grant fetuses rights that would inevitably clash with women’s rights to make their own healthcare decisions.
With all that in mind, demonstrators appeared united behind a push to get out the vote on Nov. 8 at a series of “Women’s Wave” events organized by the Women’s March.
Some demonstrators came with signs casting this coming November as “Roevember,” a referendum on abortion. Already the abortion issue has upended midterm races and forced some conservative candidates to tone down their rhetoric in the aftermath of what has proven to be a widely unpopular Supreme Court decision.
Have a look at some of the events below.
Thousands of protesters turn out in Washington, D.C., on Oct. 8.
SHANNON FINNEY VIA GETTY IMAGES
Supporters of abortion rights demonstrate outside of the Harris County Courthouse in Houston, Texas.
MARK FELIX VIA GETTY IMAGES
Women's Wave marchers showed up to demonstrate in Houston, Texas.
MARK FELIX VIA GETTY IMAGES
Demonstrators appear in New York City's Foley Square.
BRYAN R. SMITH VIA GETTY IMAGES
A woman picks out a button in Washington, D.C.
ROBERTO SCHMIDT VIA GETTY IMAGES
Thousands gathered in the nation's capital to rally for reproductive rights.
ROBERTO SCHMIDT VIA GETTY IMAGES
A Texas protester holds a sign with the Margaret Sanger quote, "No woman can call herself free who does not control her own body."
MARK FELIX VIA GETTY IMAGES
A New York City demonstrator yells at anti-abortion protestors.
BRYAN R. SMITH VIA GETTY IMAGES
A detail of a protester's hat is seen at the Washington, D.C., event.
SHANNON FINNEY VIA GETTY IMAGES
A demonstrator in New York City holds up a photo of Mahsa Amini in solidarity with protesters in Iran fighting for women's rights. The 22-year-old Amini was killed in the custody of Iran's religious police for improperly wearing her headscarf. Her death in mid-September has sparked weeks of heated protests.
BRYAN R. SMITH VIA GETTY IMAGES
Demonstrators hold signs criticizing the U.S. Supreme Court in New York City.
BRYAN R. SMITH VIA GETTY IMAGES
New York City demonstrators hold signs saying, "THIS ROEVEMBER: ROE, ROE, ROE YOUR VOTE TO TURN THE TIDE!" Another reads: "ROEVEMBER IS COMING. VOTE."
BRYAN R. SMITH VIA GETTY IMAGES
A young girl surveys the crowd from up high in Washington, D.C.
SHANNON FINNEY VIA GETTY IMAGES
See photos from the nationwide demonstrations.
By Sara Boboltz
Oct 8, 2022,
A "VOTE" sign appears outside the U.S. Capitol.
SHANNON FINNEY VIA GETTY IMAGES
With exactly one month until the 2022 midterm elections, supporters of abortion rights turned out Saturday in places across the country to highlight the gravity of the issues at stake.
Control over the Senate and the House, both currently in the hands of Democrats, is considered to be up for grabs ― and with it, the future of reproductive health care in America.
Republican lawmakers have been taking increasingly tough stances against abortion in the wake of the Supreme Court’s decision to overturn Roe v. Wade this summer. This 1973 ruling made abortion legal nationwide. Some states, such as Texas and Oklahoma, now do not even allow abortion in cases of rape or incest; exceptions to their abortion bans can only be made in very limited circumstances to save the pregnant patient’s life. Criminal penalties in certain states mean that medical practitioners might be risking their freedom and livelihood if they perform an abortion in a case that does not conform to lawmakers’ restrictions.
What’s more, a conservative movement is underway to grant fetuses rights that would inevitably clash with women’s rights to make their own healthcare decisions.
With all that in mind, demonstrators appeared united behind a push to get out the vote on Nov. 8 at a series of “Women’s Wave” events organized by the Women’s March.
Some demonstrators came with signs casting this coming November as “Roevember,” a referendum on abortion. Already the abortion issue has upended midterm races and forced some conservative candidates to tone down their rhetoric in the aftermath of what has proven to be a widely unpopular Supreme Court decision.
Have a look at some of the events below.
Thousands of protesters turn out in Washington, D.C., on Oct. 8.
SHANNON FINNEY VIA GETTY IMAGES
Supporters of abortion rights demonstrate outside of the Harris County Courthouse in Houston, Texas.
MARK FELIX VIA GETTY IMAGES
Women's Wave marchers showed up to demonstrate in Houston, Texas.
MARK FELIX VIA GETTY IMAGES
Demonstrators appear in New York City's Foley Square.
BRYAN R. SMITH VIA GETTY IMAGES
A woman picks out a button in Washington, D.C.
ROBERTO SCHMIDT VIA GETTY IMAGES
Thousands gathered in the nation's capital to rally for reproductive rights.
ROBERTO SCHMIDT VIA GETTY IMAGES
A Texas protester holds a sign with the Margaret Sanger quote, "No woman can call herself free who does not control her own body."
MARK FELIX VIA GETTY IMAGES
A New York City demonstrator yells at anti-abortion protestors.
BRYAN R. SMITH VIA GETTY IMAGES
A detail of a protester's hat is seen at the Washington, D.C., event.
SHANNON FINNEY VIA GETTY IMAGES
A demonstrator in New York City holds up a photo of Mahsa Amini in solidarity with protesters in Iran fighting for women's rights. The 22-year-old Amini was killed in the custody of Iran's religious police for improperly wearing her headscarf. Her death in mid-September has sparked weeks of heated protests.
BRYAN R. SMITH VIA GETTY IMAGES
Demonstrators hold signs criticizing the U.S. Supreme Court in New York City.
BRYAN R. SMITH VIA GETTY IMAGES
New York City demonstrators hold signs saying, "THIS ROEVEMBER: ROE, ROE, ROE YOUR VOTE TO TURN THE TIDE!" Another reads: "ROEVEMBER IS COMING. VOTE."
BRYAN R. SMITH VIA GETTY IMAGES
A young girl surveys the crowd from up high in Washington, D.C.
SHANNON FINNEY VIA GETTY IMAGES
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