Wikipedia:2022 abortion protests in the United States

A series of abortion rights and anti-abortion protests were held in the United States in May 2022, following the leak of a draft majority opinion for the Supreme Court case Dobbs v. Jackson Women's Health Organization, which would overturn Roe v. Wade and Planned Parenthood v. Casey if approved.

Women's March supported the national demonstration.

Background


On May 2, 2022, Politico released a first draft of a majority opinion written by Justice Samuel Alito, the authenticity of which Politico said it had verified. The draft opinion would overturn Roe v. Wade and Planned Parenthood v. Casey if held by the majority and thereby finalized in its present form. Alito's draft decision called the Roe decision "egregiously wrong from the start", as abortion is not listed in the Constitution as a protected right and instead would allow states to decide on abortion restrictions or guarantees under the Tenth Amendment to the United States Constitution.

Shortly after the release of the document, multiple protests occurred in cities throughout the country and outside the Supreme Court Building in Washington D.C., along with multiple individuals such as lawyers, politicians, and activist groups speaking out about the leaked draft.

Locations
According to The Hill, the Reproductive Freedom Protest (RFP) planned walkouts at more than 20 U.S. universities, including Brown University, Florida International University, Georgetown University, Hamilton College, Purdue University, the University of California, Berkeley, the University of Virginia, Virginia Commonwealth University, and Virginia Tech.

Midwest


Illinois saw protests in Bloomington, Chicago, Rockford, and Springfield.

More than a dozen people gathered at Four Freedoms Monument in Evansville, Indiana. In Indianapolis, pro-choice and anti-abortion protesters gathered outside downtown's federal courthouse. Approximately 30 protesters assembled outside the Tippecanoe County Courthouse in Lafayette, including state representative Chris Campbell.

In Iowa, there were demonstrations in Cedar Rapids and Des Moines. Additionally, approximately 100 students held a protest at Northview Middle School in Ankeny.

In Michigan, the Ann Arbor event was held outside the federal building. Dozens of people attended the rally outside the Theodore Levin United States Courthouse in Detroit, including Cynthia A. Johnson and Rashida Tlaib. Approximately 300 people participated in the demonstration at the Michigan State Capitol in Lansing, including a dozen or so anti-abortion activists. Stephanie Chang spoke at the rally. The rally outside Midland's County Courthouse was organized by the Women of Michigan Action Network and attended by approximately 150 people.

In Minnesota, there were demonstrations in Minneapolis and Saint Paul. In Missouri, there were protests in Kansas City and St. Louis. A demonstration was held in Omaha, Nebraska. Ohio saw protests in Cincinnati, Columbus, Dayton, and Youngstown. Additionally, students gathered at the Kent State University campus in Kent. In Wisconsin, demonstrations were held in La Crosse, Madison, and Milwaukee.

Northeast


Connecticut saw protests in Bridgeport, New Haven, and Norwalk. Students and faculty also protested at Quinnipiac University's Mount Carmel campus in Hamden. In Maine, there were protests in Bangor and Portland. Additionally, students held demonstrations at Bates College in Lewiston and Edward Little High School in Auburn.

In Massachusetts, approximately 1,000 people participated in the rally at Boston Common. Pro-choice and pro-choice students held rallies at the Harvard University campus in Cambridge. The Northampton rally was held at City Hall. Mayor Joseph Petty attended the event in Worcester, as did members of Pathways for Change. Students from Clark University marched from campus to the Worcester Courthouse.

New Hampshire saw protests at the New Hampshire State House in Concord. In New Jersey, hundreds protested in Montclair and at the Somerset County Courthouse in Somerville. Additionally, approximately 100 people gathered outside Nassau Hall on the Princeton University campus in Princeton.



Protesters gathered at the New York State Capitol in Albany. Kathy Hochul spoke at the event. In Ithaca, approximately 100 people gathered at the Ithaca Commons Bernie Milton Pavilion, including students from Cornell University and Ithaca College. In New York City, more than 1,000 people gathered at Foley Square in Lower Manhattan. Letitia James and students from Trinity School were in attendance. Demonstrators also met at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, and in New Springville, Staten Island. In Orange County, demonstrators gathered outside of Assemblyman Colin Schmitt's office. In Syracuse, hundreds of people assembled at downtown's federal building. The rally was organized by Women's March Syracuse.



Pennsylvania saw protests in Allentown, Lancaster, Philadelphia, and Pittsburgh. Protests were also held in Providence, Rhode Island, and Essex Junction, Vermont.

South
Demonstrations were held in Birmingham, Alabama, Fayetteville, Arkansas, and Wilmington, Delaware.

In Georgia, there were protests in Athens, Atlanta, and Savannah. Demonstrations were also held in Louisville, Kentucky, New Orleans, Louisiana, and Baltimore, Maryland.

In Mississippi, protests increased in Jackson outside the Jackson Women's Health Organization, the state's last abortion clinic which is the plaintiff in the case which may overturn Roe v. Wade. On May 3, the director announced that they would move their office to New Mexico if the Supreme Court rules against them. In North Carolina, there were demonstrations in Asheville and Raleigh.

There were also protests in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, and Charleston, South Carolina.

In Tennessee, protesters marched from Miller Park to the Hamilton County Courthouse in Chattanooga. Approximately 100 people gathered at Founders Park in Johnson City. Approximately 100 people gathered outside Knoxville's Howard H. Baker Jr. Courthouse for the "Knoxville Rally to Defend Roe. Wade", which was organized by the Women's March Coalition and the Knoxville Center for Reproductive Health. Hundreds gathered outside the federal courthouse in Nashville.

Texas saw demonstrations in Amarillo, Austin, Bryan, Dallas, El Paso, Houston,  and San Antonio.

In Virginia, protests were held in Norfolk and Richmond. There were no arrests at the protest in Washington, D.C., which attracted both pro-abortion rights and anti-abortion protesters to the Supreme Court Building.

Florida
In Florida, demonstrations were held in Bradenton, Fort Lauderdale, Gainesville, Jacksonville, Miami, Orlando, St. Augustine, St. Petersburg, Tallahassee, Tampa, and West Palm Beach.

More than 100 people gathered outside St. Petersburg's courthouse for a rally organized by state representative Michele Rayner and the Pinellas Democratic Progressive Caucus; separately, the Party for Socialism and Liberation in Tampa Bay held an abortion rights rally which was attended by an estimated 150 to 250 people, according to organizers. Approximately 100 people participated in the demonstration outside the Supreme Court of Florida in Tallahassee; the event was supported by the activist group Tallahassee Community Action Committee. Approximately 75 people attended the rally at Tampa's Joe Chillura Courthouse Square, including U.S. Representative Kathy Castor.

West
Alaska saw protests in Anchorage, Fairbanks, and Haines. In Arizona, hundreds protested in Phoenix and Tucson. Additionally, two women organized a demonstration in San Luis, Arizona.

In Colorado, there were demonstrations in Aspen, Colorado Springs, Denver, Fort Collins, and Grand Junction. A demonstration was held in Boise, Idaho.

Montana saw protests in Billings, Bozeman, Helena, and Missoula. A protest was also held in Las Vegas, Nevada. In New Mexico, there were demonstrations in Albuquerque, Las Cruces, and Santa Fe.

In Oregon, the "Rally for Womb Rights: We Will Never Go Back" event in Eugene was held outside the Wayne Lyman Morse United States Courthouse. Several hundred people participated in the rally at Lownsdale Square in downtown Portland. There was some damage by "splinter groups", which was condemned by mayor Ted Wheeler, and one person was arrested. Hundreds marched from Riverfront Park to the Oregon State Capitol in Salem.

In Utah, protests were held in Salt Lake City and St. George.

In the state of Washington, there were demonstrations in Bellingham, Olympia, Richland, Seattle, Spokane, Tacoma, Vancouver, and Walla Walla. Additionally, approximately 60 people gathered at the Clallam County Courthouse in Port Angeles, and dozens gathered outside the courthouse in Port Townsend. A demonstration was also held in Jackson Hole, Wyoming.

California


California saw protests in Berkeley, Chico, Long Beach, Monterey, Oakland, Orange County, Sacramento, San Diego, San Francisco, San Luis Obispo and Santa Barbara.

In Berkeley, students gathered at Sproul Plaza on the University of California campus. Approximately 100 students also gathered at Pomona College in Claremont.

Protests in Los Angeles, near Pershing Square, turned violent as demonstrators clashed with the Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD), resulting in several arrests and an officer receiving a head injury. A tactical alert was issued for all LAPD personnel in Los Angeles. By 11pm, it was downgraded to only cover downtown.