San Francisco rally to protest possible overturn of Roe V. Wade
SAN FRANCISCO - Abortion rights groups held rally in San Francisco Tuesday, following the leaked draft of a U.S. Supreme Court opinion that would overturn the landmark abortion ruling Roe v. Wade.
Raging Grannies of the Peninsula said early Tuesday morning that many groups and individuals took to the streets as part of a nationwide response to the news, first reported Monday by Politico.
The national group Women's March also urged supporters to hold rallies all across the country.
The San Francisco rally was organized by the National Mobilization for Reproductive Justice San Francisco at the Phillip Burton Federal Building, 450 Golden Gate Avenue at Polk Street.
The group's Norma Gallegos said it is important to tell the courts they have no right to deny this basic need.
"This devastating attack on legal abortion is a call to hit the streets throughout the land," she said in the news release. "We call on all feminists, working class people, and defenders of human rights to come out to defend and expand Roe v. Wade."
The national group is planning similar rallies at federal buildings around the country.
Women's March urged supporters to rally in their hometowns at the same time Tuesday at federal courthouses, federal buildings, town halls or town squares to defend abortion rights.
In a statement released late Monday night, the group pledged to "show up on Tuesday -- and keep showing up in larger and larger actions in the days, weeks, and months to come."
Numerous local, state and federal officials from the Bay Area issued statements in the hours after Politico's report in support of Roe v. Wade and critical of the court's leaked draft opinion.
Gov. Gavin Newsom stated: "This draft opinion is an appalling attack on the rights of women across this country and if it stands, it will destroy lives and put countless women in danger."
On Tuesday Hillary Ronen with the San Francisco Board of Supervisors, said the board has taken the first step toward creating a "Safe Abortion Access program" in the city. On Twitter she said the program would fund travel costs, accommodation and safe access to abortions for women living in "anti-Choice States."