Hundreds swarm Fresno City Hall protesting U.S. Supreme Court overturning Roe v. Wade

A loud and enthusiastic crowd of about 500 turned out early Saturday at Fresno City Hall to condemn the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision overturning abortion rights.

The thermometer was already rising toward a 100-degree day as protesters, most carrying signs, gathered, filling the plaza by 8:30 a.m.

“The Supreme Court has made the decision,” said Socorro Santillan of Planned Parenthood Mar Monte.

“What are you going to do about it?”

The crowd responded:

“Vote! Vote! Vote!”

The U.S. Supreme Court’s decision to strike down Roe v. Wade, the landmark 1973 ruling that established abortion as a constitutional right, could have a disproportionate impact on lower-income communities and people of color in the Central Valley, experts said Friday.

The ruling means that states nationwide will now be able to ban abortion outright. Meanwhile, abortion will remain legal in California, with state leaders vowing to protect the right to terminate a pregnancy.

Despite the obvious dismay most at the protest appeared to feel over the court’s decision, tempers were kept in check, even as a debate took place with a counter protester in one corner of the plaza. Several cars also drove by, honking as passengers held placards backing the court’s decision.

Evelyn Gamble arrived at City Hall leaning on a crutch. She noted the irony of a shortage of baby formula as the court’s decision was handed down.

“If you’re going to force someone to have a child, you’re going to have to provide nutrition,” she said, to loud cheers and applause. She said she worried about pregnant people in states where abortion is now suddenly illegal.

“All of the women, where are they going to go?”

“My body, my choice,” she shouted, leading the crowd in the chant.

Janet Slagter, a retired women’s studies professor at Fresno State, said Justice Samuel Alito “picked and chose” to come to the conclusions he reached in his decision.

“Women are going to have to do their own abortions”

Rabbi Laura Novak Winer of Temple Beth Israel called opposing the Supreme Court decision not only a heath care and civil rights issue, but a religious freedom issue as well.

“In my faith, the health of the woman always comes first,” she said.

“Vote! (get your) neighbors to vote, your cousins to vote.”

The Rev Tim Kutzmark, of the Unitarian Universalist Church said, “The radical right is out of step with most Americans.

“This (court decision) is immoral. This is a sin!”

This story was originally published June 25, 2022 at 9:27 AM.