Protests broke out across the nation last weekend following the leak of a draft Supreme Court opinion that could overturn Roe v. Wade – the landmark 1973 decision that protects women’s constitutional right to abortion.
Politico published the draft, written by Supreme Court Justice Samuel Alito, on May 2. It is unknown who is behind the leak, but the Court confirmed the legitimacy of the draft in a press release the next day.
“To the extent this betrayal of the confidences of the Court was intended to undermine the integrity of our operations, it will not succeed,” wrote Chief Justice John Roberts.
If the draft is made official by the Court, about half of the states in the country are expected to restrict or completely outlaw abortion. Onlookers await the official decision, which is expected by the end of June.
After two days of demonstrations that followed the leak, police placed barricades on the Supreme Court steps and workers constructed an eight-foot-tall fence surrounding the Court, NBC reported.
Pro-choice advocate Michelle Peterson stood with a sign outside of the Supreme Court steps on Monday for over five hours.
“This has always been the law since I’ve been born,” said Peterson. “I’ve never thought that it would be yanked away.”
Thousands of pro-choice activists marched from the National Mall to the Supreme Court on Saturday in a “Bans Off Our Bodies” rally. They were joined by other groups around the nation, including a rally at Ives Estates Park in Miami.
SFMN spoke with three women protestors who favor overturning Roe v. Wade.
“What motivates me to come and pray for this is I just care a lot for the lives of the unborn that have not been heard,” said one of the pro-life advocate who wished to remain anonymous. “Nobody’s been voicing them.”
Pro-life and pro-choice groups alike are expected to congregate for continued protests on Capitol Hill and around the nation throughout the week.
Video package by Nicole Castañeda. Written story by Maya Washburn.