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Several thousand people gathered in downtown Dallas on Saturday to rally for reproductive rights and to demonstrate against Texas’ new law that heavily restricts abortions.
The afternoon rally was one of many in North Texas and hundreds across the state and U.S. planned to coincide with the national Women’s March in Washington, where Texas’ recently passed law, known as SB 8, was a focal point for protesters and speakers.
The nationwide events came a day after the Justice Department argued before a U.S. district judge in Austin that Texas’ near-total ban on abortions is unconstitutional. The department said that SB 8, which outlaws abortions six weeks into pregnancy — before many women know they are pregnant — violates Supreme Court precedent that grants the right to have an abortion.
For some, like 83-year-old Marvel Reese and her friends, 78-year-old Shelley Meyer and 74-year-old Vivi Sooy, passage of the bill was a major factor in deciding to attend Saturday’s rally.
“I was here when we made abortion legal, and now they’re taking it away and I’m really pissed,” Reese said.
Although dismayed at the bill’s passing, the three Dallas-area friends said they were heartened to see the number of people in attendance at the park.
“We are so happy to see so many young people here, really,” Sooy said.
Demonstrators — Dallas police estimated their numbers at 3,000 — filled Main Street Garden Park, with many carrying signs bearing messages like “Let’s talk about the elephant in the womb,” “I love someone who had an abortion” and “My vagina, my choice.”
About a dozen anti-abortion protesters shouted different messages from in front of the UNT Dallas Law Center. “You’re fake Christians!” was one chant. A street preacher with a megaphone told those in the main rally that they were bound for hell. And someone else screamed that the demonstrators had never known death or battle, prompting Jayne Richardson of McKinney to yell back: “I’m a veteran!”
Richardson said she gave a child up for adoption years ago. While abortion wasn’t the right choice for her, she said, she drove to the rally to support others’ right to get the procedure.
“I’m pro-life for me and pro-choice for the rest of the world,” she said.
The opposing groups chanted and yelled back and forth across Commerce Street. When a group of abortion-rights supporters began walking across the street toward the counterprotesters, plain-clothes police officers told them to go back.
While emotions were high, the two sides remained peaceful.
Just as the demonstrators set out from the park to march, a few broke off to cross the street and confront anti-abortion protesters. Some tossed boxes of emergency contraceptives at them.
The crowd marched down Commerce Street and later Elm Street before rounding back to the park.
Feminist anthems like Shania Twain’s “Man! I Feel Like a Woman!” and Cyndi Lauper’s “Girls Just Want To Have Fun” could be heard through much of chanting.
Valerie Queen of Grand Prairie, who wasn’t taking part in the demonstration, said she was happy to see so many women in support of abortion rights.
“As a woman, and as a single mom, it’s my right,” she said.
Erika Garcia of Dallas said she was encouraged by the diversity of the crowd.
“Seeing all these people from different backgrounds coming together to be part of this movement means a lot, especially as someone who has had an abortion,” Garcia said.
For 22-year-old Erin Quinn, though, abortion has an entirely different meaning. Quinn, who attended with the anti-abortion group Students for Life of America, said she attended because she believes the procedure is harmful to women.
“Abortions are hurting and betraying women,” Quinn said. “Abortions are betraying and lying to women and telling them that they can’t succeed without abortions.”
But in light of SB 8 and with the nearly 50-year-old Roe vs. Wade ruling at risk of being overturned by the conservative-leaning Supreme Court, the overwhelming majority of women who turned out Saturday were calling for stronger protections for women’s reproductive rights.