Roe v. Wade overturned: The scene outside the Supreme Court.
Anna Lulis from Moneta, Virginia, (left) who works for the pro-life group Students for Life of America, stands beside an abortion rights demonstrator outside the U.S. Supreme Court in Washington, D.C., on June 24, 2022, after the court’s decision in the Dobbs abortion case was announced. / Katie Yoder/CNAProtesters were kept apart from the court by a number of fences and obstacles, as well as uniformed police officers.
Some pro-abortion and pro-life activists gathered in the street in front of the court, which was closed to traffic, and conversed with one another on a sweltering July day.
Media cameras were on standby to record any exciting occurrences.
“I couldn’t be more thrilled,” 24-year-old Anna Lulis from Moneta, Virginia, told CNA of the lives she believes the decision will save. “I think this is a huge step forward for human rights.”
When the court issued its historic 6-3 ruling, more than 200 pro-life students, according to Lulis, who works with Students for Life of America, were outside the court.
However, as the day went on, pro-abortion activists progressively constituted a sizable portion of the throng.
Lulis carried a sign declaring, “Women don’t need Roe!” As she spoke, abortion activists led various chants with megaphones. Among the refrains: “Legal abortion on demand right f*ing now!” and “f* you, SCOTUS,” using the acronym for the Supreme Court of the United States.
The street was covered in vibrant signs that used vibrant language. One pro-abortion sign stated, “F*** SCOTUS we’re doing it anyway.” Another retorted, “You will never have power over my body.”
Shaking hangers at the court, some women protesters who were incensed by Friday’s ruling expressed their belief that overturning Roe will result in a return to illegal abortions in some areas of the nation.
At one point, pro-abortion protesters all pointed their middle fingers in the direction of the courthouse. Some people were more composed.
When a discussion between a pro-life campaigner and an abortion supporter turned tense, Pierrerasha Goodwin, 22, stepped in on behalf of the activist.
Goodwin, who supports abortion, is a native of Chicago. She assisted her 15-year-old sister in getting an abortion, which was her first exposure to abortion.
She claimed that following that encounter, she felt inspired to study more about abortion after witnessing the national debate on the subject.
“If you’re going to stand for everyone else’s rights, and making sure that everyone is treated equal, you have to treat people with respect,” Goodwin said.
“In doing that, fostering those important conversations, you get to actually listen to somebody and say, ‘OK, I may disagree with you, but at least now I know why people think like that.’”
Another pro-abortion advocate who spoke with CNA was Joseph Little, a 32-year-old resident of Washington, D.C. Little’s placard, which read “Forced Birth is Enslavement,” was infuriated by the Supreme Court’s decision.
Little discussed the “need” for women to have the option to select an abortion, likening Black captivity to the practice.
Edwin Garcia-Arzola, 22, of Lumberton, North Carolina, represented the opposing viewpoint and was sporting a T-shirt that read “Young pro-life Democrat.” He declared that he was “proud” of the court’s ruling as a Catholic.
“For us, and especially for pro-life Democrats, it is very important for us because now we can take this battle to all of our states,” he said, adding that he is affiliated with the group Democrats for Life.
Kara Zupkus, 25, a spokesperson for the conservative organization Young America’s Foundation, was another pro-life advocate in the audience.
To celebrate the court’s ruling, members of the organization were present.
“We work with high school and college students to bring pro-life speakers to their campuses and host activism initiatives on campus,” Zupkas said. “To finally see our hard work pay off …. It has been just amazing.”