At least 1,000 people amassed in Portland Friday for a march and protest in support of abortion rights, chanting “my body, my choice” and “abortion is healthcare” as they marched from Lincoln Park to Portland City Hall.
Gov. Janet Mills was the third speaker to address the crowd. She called the decision a “devastating” opinion that was a “fundamental assault on women’s rights.”
Maine Speaker of the House Rep. Ryan Fecteau also spoke.
“Today’s ruling is not a surprise … the effects of the decisions coming from this Supreme Court are devastating,” said Dr. Julia McDonald, a family medicine physician who vowed to never stop performing abortions. “Our bodily autonomy, our liberty, our freedom are on the line.”
She said this is especially devastating to people of color and those living with poverty and health risks.
The We Won’t Go Back Rally + March for Reproductive Freedom began at about 5:30 pm, drawing people of all ages. But the largest group was young men and women who came from all over Portland and beyond.
Protestors in Portland gather to respond to the Supreme Court’s announcement that Roe v. Wade has been overturned. Credit: Troy R. Bennett / BDN
Several brought homemade signs, including angry and sometimes explicit messages leveled at the supreme court as well as Maine Sen. Susan Collins. Collins voted to confirm two of the justices who voted for the overturn, Neil Gorsuch and Brett Kavanaugh.
Many signs referenced the long history of abortion rights, the 49 years since Roe v. Wade was decided in 1973.
“We are not alone. We join two-thirds of Americans who believe in a conditional right to privacy,” said State Rep. Rachel Talbot Ross (D-Portland) who also led a chant of “Maine won’t go back.”
The crowd responded with chants of “November 8.”
“We have to make sure that we work longer and harder with more intention to not let them divide us,” Ross said.
Ross encouraged protestors to support local abortion funds.
A counter protest could be heard from City Hall, though it wasn’t immediately clear how big the scope was.
