Crowd protests SCOTUS overruling of Roe v. Wade in downtown Fairhope

Alabama outlaws abortion, makes procedure a felon

By Allison Marlow
Posted 6/24/22

FAIRHOPE - You could hear them chanting up and down North Section Street Friday night as the sun set on the U.S. Supreme Court’s announcement that the landmark case granting the constitutional …

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Crowd protests SCOTUS overruling of Roe v. Wade in downtown Fairhope

Alabama outlaws abortion, makes procedure a felon

Posted

FAIRHOPE - You could hear them chanting up and down North Section Street Friday night as the sun set on the U.S. Supreme Court’s announcement that the landmark case granting the constitutional right of abortion, Roe vs. Wade, had been overturned.

According to organizers, you will hear them shouting until that right is restored.

About 100 people from across Baldwin County gathered in front of Fairhope City Hall on Friday evening to protest the justices’ landmark decision.

The historic and far-reaching ruling had been upheld for nearly half a century.

Several organizations put the event together in the hours after the morning announcement. Many attendees said their reaction to the news was the same: shock and tears.

Trauma quickly turned to action as it has for the organization several times in recent years.

“Our goal is to show people in our part of Alabama that there are a lot of us progressives and we do not all identify as red, Republican, far right, Trump supporting people here,” she said. “The goal of our group is to be out and be free and be able to share our thoughts and opinions like Republicans have been able to forever.”

Just minutes before the group began chanting, the Alabama Attorney General’s office announced that in light of the SCOTUS ruling an injunction against Alabama’s Human Life Protection Act had been lifted.

In May 2019 Governor Kay Ivey signed a bill that banned nearly all abortions at any stage of pregnancy unless a woman’s life is threatened or there is a lethal fetal anomaly. The ban was blocked by a federal judge.

On Friday evening Alabama made abortion a felony. The attorney general’s office released this statement:

 “The State of Alabama’s emergency motion to lift the injunction and reinstate Alabama’s 2019 law, which prohibits abortions in most instances, has been granted,” said Attorney General Marshall. “Both the federal district court and the plaintiffs recognized that there is no basis for a continued stay of the duly-enacted law in light of the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision in Dobbs v Jackson Women’s Health Organization. Thus, Alabama’s law making elective abortions a felony is now enforceable. Anyone who takes an unborn life in violation of the law will be prosecuted, with penalties ranging from 10 to 99 years for abortion providers.”

Spomer said the fight is not actually about abortion but rather control over women to make their own decisions.

“I’m not for abortion. I’m for womens’ rights and just for the right of my neighbor to have a choice over her body. It shouldn’t be my decision to make,” Spomer said. “These people who care so much are not going to care about the baby after it’s born. It’s all about control.”

Friday’s crowd was filled by women, men, young, old, children, teens and babies.

Eric Wood, of Elberta, stood among the crowd with his family. He said other men give him flack for siding against Roe vs. Wade.

“This isn’t about abortion," he said. "This is about a woman’s right to decide what’s right for her.”

As the crowd chanted passing cars honked their horns in support. Others slowed as they rolled past, the occupants glaring at the crowd.

Spomer said they will continue the work, despite the stares and anything else they encounter.

“Our work is ongoing,” she said. “We’re not going to be quiet. We’re not scared of anyone’s thoughts or opinions about us. This is our right to our bodies.”