Abortion Rights Protesters Hit The Streets In Philadelphia, Nationwide For 'Stop The Bans Day Of Action'
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) -- The latest debate over abortion is spreading far and wide as pro-abortion rights advocates in Philadelphia and across the country marched in protest. The "Stop the Bans Day of Action" in Philadelphia was organized by Planned Parenthood Southeastern Pennsylvania.
It was one of the many rallies that took place around the country in response to recent abortion ban laws.
Abortion rights protesters flooded the corner of Broad and Locust Streets in Philadelphia with strongly worded signs, and even stronger vocal messages during one of the many "Stop the Bans" demonstrations happening nationwide.
"I believe that it's a woman's right to decide what will happen with her body," said protester Marie Conti.
The protests were staged at noon local time in nearly 50 states, including one of the largest rallies outside the Supreme Court in Washington, D.C. Abortion rights activists say recently passed state laws in places like Alabama are an attack on Roe v. Wade, the 1973 Supreme Court decision that legalized abortion in the U.S.
"I'm definitely pro-choice, I'm pro-women's reproductive freedom. We need to stop the tide of anti-abortion legislation immediately," said protester Tracey Olkus.
This is expected to be the first of many rallies to come both here locally and nationally in light of recent legislation.
Alabama's law, which is expected to face legal challenges, virtually makes terminating pregnancy illegal. The Mississippi law that bans abortions as early as six weeks, heads to federal court Tuesday.
