Protestors Gathered in front of Wayne Morse Federal Courthouse -Photo by Raleigh Emerson
Anti-choice and pro-choice protestors gathered in front of the Wayne Morse Federal Courthouse on Friday after the Supreme Court Decision in Dobbs V Jackson Women’s Health Organization. This decision has effectively ended the precedent set by Roe in 1973.
The anti-choice rally featured speakers from Oregon Right To Life an anti abortion activist group that encourages people to stand outside of clinics and harrass people seeking reproductive care. One of the speakers stated that SCOTUS’ decision day was “one of the greatest days in American history.” The speaker line up featured several men discussing how much they’ve prayed for this and how the small crowd could get involved. Pro-choice activists were gathered on the street corners chanting over the anti-choice speakers.
The pro-choice rally, led by Planned Parenthood Advocates of Oregon staff and volunteers, amassed a crowd of over 1000. Speakers included District 4 congressional candidate Val Hoyle, PPAO Field Director Lindsey Sadlou, poet and activist Paris Woodward-Ganz, Planned Parenthood of Southern Oregon board member Karmen Fore, and PPSO Doctor Dr. Martha Reilly.
Hoyle’s speech was met with some anger from a small section of the crowd shouting that politicians do nothing. Sadlou led the crowd with chants calling for action, “When our basic body autonomy is under attack, what do we do? Stand up, fight back!”
Woodward-Ganz recited a poem they had written in reaction to the news. “The first thing I did was write a poem because that’s how I cope.” The poem was called Mythos and was a follow up to another poem they have performed at rallies called Medusa. “Our stories are deemed hysterical that we wish to tell. Our bodies become a commodity just to buy and sell.”
Organizers of the pro-choice rally held space for community members to share their stories as well. A 14-year-old speaker shared her story of sexual assault at 8 years old. She said she woke up terrified today from the news that her rights were being taken away. Woodward-Ganz made asks of the community during the public forum, she stated, “You cannot fight for people of color, without including people of color.”
The rally ended and a large portion of the crowd marched toward downtown and on Broadway. Another action was held outside of Dove Medical Center, a crisis pregnancy center, later in the evening. Double Sided Media, led by former Torch journalist James Croxton captured footage of the protest and the police reaction. His entire thread on the night can be found here.
The standoff between protesters and police lasted over five hours. Police responded to protesters in gas masks with rubber bullets and batons. A man affiliated with the Three Percenters, an ideological group that the Southern Poverty Law Center has called a “vanguard extremist movement,” was seen carrying what looked like an AR-15. According to Croxton, a protester asked a Eugene Police officer if they could keep an eye on him and the police responded that they were “more concerned about the people across the street wearing masks.” Ten protesters were arrested by the end of the night.
Democratic and Republican candidates for governor of Oregon both issued statements. Christine Drazan, the Republican nominee, stated in a Twitter comment, “Despite the Supreme Court decision, Oregon will continue to have among the most extreme abortion laws in the country and around the world. As governor, I will stand up for life by vetoing legislation designed to push Oregon further outside the mainstream.” Tina Kotek, the Democratic nominee stated, “Our right to control our own bodies and futures has been gutted. I’m furious. I’m deeply concerned for women around the country.” Her full statement can be found here.
Thirteen states have trigger laws that will ban abortion after the end of Roe. Some were instant bans including Texas where as soon as the news broke had to start turning away patients. Some are going to take a little more time. In Idaho there is a 30-day countdown after the official publishing of the court’s decision. The law in Idaho will only allow abortion in cases of rape or incest, or if the mother’s life is at risk. But patients seeking care will have to provide a police report proving the crime took place before they can receive abortion care.
Oregon has codified abortion into law but there are still barriers to receiving care, especially for low income folks and people of color. The state will be seeing an influx in patients needing abortion from states outlawing reproductive freedom. This will cause extra strain on the system. Factoring in financial and geographical barriers, Oregon will be in need of extra support. Northwest Access Abortion Funds helps people get to and from their abortions and helps pay for the abortion care. “This is an opportunity for our Lane County community, and the broader Oregon community to come together to stand for bodily autonomy,” said Mikaela Byers, NWAAF Board Member and Travel Coordinator in response to the SCOTUS decision. NWAAF’s full statement can be found below
More decisions from SCOTUS are expected soon: Oklahoma V Castro-Huerta which will determine whether the state can prosecute a non-native for committing a crime against Natives on Native territory without federal approval; and West Virginia v Environmental Protection Agency which will determine if the EPA can regulate carbon emissions from power plants.
Governors Kate Brown of Oregon, Jay Inslee of Washington, and Gavin Newsom of California issued a multi state commitment to reproductive freedom. They are committed to protecting people from out of state investigators who cooperate with local law enforcement, and against hostile states trying to prosecute people seeking care on the west coast.
For information on accessing abortion care visit abortionfinder.org
For any and all issues regarding reproductive healthcare visit plannedparenthood.org
To register to vote visit sos.oregon.gov
