Abortion advocates, opponents rally in Twin Cities following SCOTUS ruling on Roe v. Wade
MINNEAPOLIS -- Two federal courthouses were the site of two dramatically different responses to a federal court ruling Friday evening, as pro- and anti-abortion rights advocates rallied in Minneapolis and St. Paul.
In Minneapolis, hundreds of people marched from the University of Minnesota's campus to the courthouse downtown in opposition to the U.S. Supreme Court's upheaval of the Roe v. Wade decision.
A look at the hundreds marching as the group heads down Washington Ave over 35W. @Wcco #wcco pic.twitter.com/WbL8EYa9tL
— Adam Duxter (@AdamDuxter) June 25, 2022
"It's been really emotional today, it's devastating, we're going backwards," said Branigan Secraw, who marched with her newborn daughter in tow. "That should not be where we're going."
In St. Paul, roughly 100 evangelicals rallied in support of the decision.
Supporters of abortion rights are currently marching across the Washington Ave. bridge over 35W in Minneapolis. @WCCO #RoeVWade pic.twitter.com/zPbLFhJVXq
— Nick Streiff (@nickstreiff) June 25, 2022
"We're here to celebrate the protection of many unborn children in states around the country," said Grace Evans of the Minnesota Family Council. "There are people that have been working towards this for 50 years, and it's not just the work were putting into it, it's what we're fighting for, and we're fighting for the lives of preborn children."
At the rally in St. Paul, anti-abortion rights demonstrators clashed verbally with those in support of abortion rights.
"The unborn child from the moment of fertilization is a human being, there's no doubt about that," said Brian Gibson, whose Pro-life Action Ministries organization hosted the event.
At the "Keep Abortion Legal" demonstration, marchers displayed dismay about the change.
"This decision is wrong, and it's taking us backwards, not forwards," said Shari Danielson, who says she attended to be an example for her two daughters. "(The ruling) is a refutation of everything that women have been working for. That's autonomy over our bodies and our ability to have control over our reproductive choices."
Both rallies focused primarily on what's next in Minnesota now that Roe v. Wade is overturned. A large emphasis was placed on Doe v. Gomez, a 1995 ruling in Minnesota that established abortion protections statewide.
While pro-abortion rights advocates say they're relieved to know Minnesota will uphold abortion protections, those at the St. Paul rally say their next step is outlawing abortion statewide.