Protesters plan rally in downtown Tacoma in support of abortion rights
After a draft opinion of a U.S. Supreme Court case on abortion rights leaked Monday that suggests the court could overturn Roe v. Wade, protesters have taken to the streets across the United States and in Western Washington to protest.
In Tacoma, people are planning to rally for abortion rights Saturday outside the U.S. District Courthouse at 1717 Pacific Ave. downtown. The rally, “Tacoma Stands Up for Reproductive Justice,” is being organized by the Tacoma Democratic Socialists of America and Serve the People Tacoma, a mutual aid program.
After the Monday night leak, first reported by Politico, hundreds of people gathered the next day on the Capitol Campus in Olympia to show support for abortion rights. Similar protests have taken place in Seattle, Bellingham, Vancouver and other states.
The rally in Tacoma is to begin at 11 a.m.
“Our rights should not be up for debate,” Serve the People Tacoma said in a tweet sharing information about the rally. “It is time for us to show elected officials and each other the power we have when we come together in true solidarity!”
Representatives from Serve the People Tacoma and Tacoma DSA were not immediately available to comment.
In a written statement Tuesday, Tacoma City Council said it was “appalled” to see the draft opinion indicating Roe v. Wade might be overturned. The 1973 case legalized abortion nationwide. The council said it stood with Gov. Jay Inslee in supporting the right to choose for women, transgender and nonbinary people who can become pregnant.
“If this increasingly politicized court betrays our country’s commitment to personal freedom by moving this opinion forward, it will set us backwards 50 years,” the council wrote.
This story was originally published May 5, 2022 at 12:29 PM.
