Rally and reaction to leaked Roe v Wade draft opinion from across Ohio
COLUMBUS, Ohio (WSYX) — Chanting “hands off our bodies” and carrying signs like “abortion rights are human rights” about a hundred people demonstrated outside the Ohio Supreme Court on Monday evening.
The rain and lightning did not deter what pro-choice organizers called “Columbus Rapid Response for Abortion Justice.”
Activists weighing in across Ohio as we take a look at what is next for Ohioans following the leaked U.S. Supreme Court draft decision to overturn Roe v Wade in the coming months.
Aileen Day with Planned Parenthood of Columbus said the opinion is dangerous and would violate a person’s right to choose what happens to their body.
“It is not surprising, even though it is devastating that it will be overturned. It took us generations of work to get where we are now, and it will take generations of work to get the right to choose back,” said Day.
Right to Life’s Mike Gonidakis said overturning Roe will allow each state to make its own determination on whether to allow abortion and under what circumstances. There are two “trigger” bills in the legislature that would effectively ban abortion in Ohio.
“I think what this means for the American people is freedom. Look nowhere in the U.S. Constitution does it say there is a right to an abortion it simply does not exist,” said Gonidakis.
Day said Planned Parenthood wants to make it clear that abortion is still legal in Ohio. They are working to make it an option for those who want it.
“For the people who are able to, get them out of state. Planned Parenthood has been working for a while to develop patient navigators to help patients figure out how to access an abortion,” Day said.
“It is a day we have been praying for a very long time. I have been at Ohio Right to Life for 14 years and my hopes and prayers have always been to see this day coming,” said Gonidakis.
“We know after Roe, they are going to be coming for other rights as well,” said Day.
Both sides are speaking out against the leak.
“We just politicized the U.S. Supreme Court and our court has been hijacked. In fact, I am not sure our court can recover because now we have allowed in the politics to try to pressure justices,” said Gonidakis.
“Our rights are our rights. They can make abortion illegal but we will still be able to access abortion,” Day said.
So far no word on any plans for Right to Life demonstrations.
