Thousands Rally at U.S. Supreme Court for Reproductive Rights

Amidst chants of “My Right! My Body! My Decision!” thousands rallied outside the Supreme Court on March 4, 2020, as the Center for Reproductive Rights argued its abortion case inside the Court.

In the case, June Medical v. Russo, the Center is challenging a Louisiana abortion restriction that is identical to a Texas law struck down by the Supreme Court in 2016 in Whole Woman’s Health v. Hellerstedt, a case brought and won by the Center. Click here for coverage of the Center’s oral arguments before the Court.

Many speakers inspired the #MyRightMyDecision Rally crowd, which was emceed by Renee Bracey Sherman, of We Testify, and included Nancy Northup, president and CEO of the Center for Reproductive Rights, and Kathaleen Pittman, administrator of Hope Medical Group for Women, the Louisiana clinic named in this case.

“This case is bigger than Louisiana,” Pittman told the rally crowd. “This case is about women across the country being able to access abortion in a realistic way, not just in theory.”

Also in attendance and speaking were a strong coalition of reproductive rights, health and justice organizations; abortion providers; faith leaders; women who have had abortions, and artists and entertainers. 

Elizabeth Banks and Busy Philipps, both members of the Center’s creative council, also inspired the crowd.  “The truth is, the kind of person who has an abortion is everyone,” said Banks, an actor, producer and director. “People have abortions across party lines, geographic lines, religious lines, class lines, racial lines, people of all genders have abortions.” 

Philipps got a huge reaction from those assembled when she spoke about her own experience as a teenager. “I will not be shamed into being quiet,” she said. “We will not be shamed into being quiet again. I will never stop talking about my abortion.”

Members of Congress spoke, too, including Ayanna Pressley of Massachusetts:  “When women’s bodies are more regulated than guns, this is outrageous,” she told the crowd. 

June Medical Services v. Russo struck down Louisiana’s abortion restriction in a 5-4 ruling on June 29, 2020. Read about the Supreme Court’s decision in  June Medical Services v. Russo here.