Hundreds rally for abortion rights throughout Southland
Hundreds of Southern Californians on Saturday joined protestors across the United States who have rallied against a recent document leak out of the Supreme Court in regards to the landmark Roe v. Wade decision to protect a woman's right for abortion.
The first notable protest of the day was held in the early afternoon outside of a park in West Hollywood, where protestors carried signs that read "My Body My Choice," "We Won't Go Back" and "Abortion on Demand Without Apology" amongst other things.
They first gathered after the rally was organized by the Rise Up 4 Abortion Rights group. They also have a national week of action planned, set to begin on Mother's Day and including a nationwide protest on May 14.
Demonstrators then walked through several well-known areas of Hollywood including San Vicente and Santa Monica boulevards, La Cienega Boulevard, Melrose Avenue, Robertson Boulevard and back to San Vicente.
They could be heard chanting, "C'mon, c'mon and join the fight - abortion is a human right!"
Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department deputies were on hand to provide traffic control and keep protestors safe, according to Sergeant. E. Jalvez.
Another gathering, labeled a "Unite for Women's Rights" rally, was planned for 3 p.m. at Veteran's Memorial Park in Culver City.
It was sponsored by the Culver City High School Reproductive Rights Club, POC4Change, Culver City Community Coalition, Culver City Community of Color Collective and the Culver City Democratic Club.
One of the dozens of protestors on hand could be seen holding a sign which read, "Respect My Existence or Expect Resistance."
A third protest was orchestrated by the Party for Socialism and Liberation in East Hollywood at 5 p.m., at the intersection of North Vermont Avenue and Santa Monica Boulevard.
With Sky9 overhead, dozens of demonstrators could be seen lining the streets, including one party holding a large sign which read, "Legal Abortion Once and For All!" and "We Won't Go Back, We Will Fight Back!"
By 6 p.m., more than a hundred people could be seen gathered at the intersection, as various gatherers spoke to the crowd.
CBS reporters on the scene spoke with several members of the crowd, who detailed how even though their rights in California might be more protected than other states, they're fighting for women throughout the U.S.
"Our sisters in Texas, our sisters in the south are under attack, and we know know that the same mechanisms that attack abortion rights could eventually come and attack us here in California," said Emmie Lockwood, one of hundreds of abortion rights advocates gathered Saturday evening.
At around 6:30 p.m., the crowd began to march southbound down Vermont Avenue, where Los Angeles Police Department officers were on hand to facilitate their movement.
This comes less than a week after LAPD officers went on full tactical alert during a separate abortion rights protest in Downtown Los Angeles on May 3.
A large police presence was still on hand Saturday, though no issues occurred.
"We're here to say we need to fight for women's rights." said Sheila Xaio, another abortion rights advocate. "Most Americans support abortion, but there's this desire to use religion to divide us and take away women's fundamental rights."
In their press release, the PSL detailed that they were gathering because, "The Supreme Court has declared war against women and our basic rights to control our own bodies. Now is the time to fight back. Millions of people going into the streets would make it clear that without justice there can be no peace."
They plan to keep marching and protesting every day to get their message across, stating that the power in protests is the visibility they gain, hoping to get more people on their side.
A rally planned outside of Los Angeles City Hall next Saturday (May 14) is said to have gathered over 20,000 RSVPs to date.
