Maryland May Experience The Domino Effect Of A Controversial Supreme Court Ruling On Abortion
BALTIMORE (WJZ) -- Hundreds of protesters gathered at Baltimore's Federal Courthouse Friday afternoon in support of abortion rights, knowing that people living in nearby states that could see abortion restricted or banned in the days to come.
This pressure will likely push women in search of services to Maryland.
"We're going to be forced to give birth when we're not financially ready, mentally ready, physically capable. That's ridiculous," said one protester who attends Morgan State University.
From Frederick County, Annapolis, and Baltimore, people gathered in front of Baltimore City Hall and the Federal Courthouse.
"What I'm scared of is that Black and brown women will be somewhere in the alley watching a YouTube video, really, because they don't have access to healthcare,: former Baltimore City Council member Shannon Sneed said.
Maryland's abortion providers are sounding the alarm, saying the state will see an influx of women from states where abortion could soon be banned.
"We're not ready to take care of the entire country," Dr. Kyle Bukowski, the chief medical officer of Planned Parenthood Maryland, said. "The scaled of what we're about to see across the country is unprecedented and we can't prepare to absorb all of that."
While the majority of protesters rallied in support of abortion rights, demonstrators in front of Baltimore's Planned Parenthood prayed to end abortion in Maryland too.
"Today's decision is a monumental victory for women and children," Laura Bogley, the director of legislation for Maryland's Right to Life, said.
In the wake of these uprisings, barricades went up in Baltimore, Maryland State Police say they're monitoring events across the state as the threat of violence grows on both sides.
"There have been threats made against pro-life pregnancy centers," Bogley said.
Bukowski described it as "the anti-abortion movement is a radical violent terrorist movement."
CBS News is reporting that the Department of Homeland Security has warned that threats of political violence will likely intensify, especially against judges and state officials.