Students and activists gathered at Town & Country Village on May 3 to protest the Supreme Court’s draft opinion to overturn Roe v. Wade.
The draft opinion, leaked and published by Politico on May 2, would overturn the Supreme Court’s 1973 decision in Roe v. Wade, which laid much of the groundwork for women’s rights to abortion and privacy.
Junior Evie Kramer, who attended the protest, said the protesters denounced the leaked opinion because it would harm women’s rights.
“Female reproductive rights should belong to women and women alone, and restricting them access (to abortions) is taking away (their) fundamental rights,” Kramer said. “Abortions should be safe and accessible for anybody who needs one, and the turnover of Roe v Wade will directly restrict that.”
Freshman Briar Dorogusker, who also attended the protest, said she feels it is important for people to speak out about this issue because of the universal impact it will have on peoples’ freedoms.
“One big part of America is having freedom and having all of these rights,” Dorogusker said. “Forcing (women) to have kids even if they don’t want to be pregnant or aren’t ready to be pregnant just doesn’t seem right.”
Kramer said she was especially motivated to protest because of the significant impact the decision is likely to have on her access to reproductive rights.
“I care because I have a vagina, and I’m a woman,” Kramer said. “I’m protesting for my body and my daughters’ bodies if I have children, and for future generations that deserve to have safe healthcare.”
