“Motherhood is a choice, not a mandate.” “We will stand firm.” The message was painted on a green umbrella by Sheryl, a 61-year-old woman. Like thousands around the country, she joined tens of thousands who took to the streets in New York City this Saturday with her husband and two teenagers, underscoring the defense of abortion rights through 380 demonstrations, marches, and protests nationwide.
Recent leaks of a draft opinion signal what could become a pivotal national shift. The conservative majority on the Supreme Court appears poised to overturn established precedents that have upheld abortion rights since Roe v. Wade in 1973 and Casey v. Planned Parenthood in 1992. If the decision is issued as expected, abortion regulation would revert to individual states, potentially banning or severely limiting it in at least 26 states governed by Republicans.
“This feels like a threat—a culture war, a war for the workplace of the mind,” stated Sheryl, who also reflected on the memory of her great-grandmother Dora, a German immigrant who faced pregnancy and died attempting to end one on her own. The sense that the court’s coming decision would reflect popular sentiment did not align with polling data, which shows significant segments of Americans support abortion rights under various conditions (Pew Research Center; Gallup). The numbers attest that a majority favors abortion access with some limits or broad legality, depending on the framing of the question.
“Show, donate and vote”
In New York, the mood was tense and resolute. Voices ranged from anger to determination as protesters refused to back down. Jasmine, a 25-year-old Black woman, said the court’s anticipated ruling did not surprise her, even though it remained discouraging. She emphasized that motherhood must be a choice and urged practical action: support organizations such as Planned Parenthood and participate in civic life. “We can influence change by showing up, donating, and voting,” she urged.
Another early supporter, 21-year-old Laila, expressed frustration with the current leadership, signaling a broader push to mobilize for November’s midterm elections. She argued that the real stakes extend beyond any single party and urged a collective effort to safeguard reproductive rights, insisting that genuine accountability lies with the people rather than the political class.
Linda Sasso, a longtime activist known for her role in the first Women’s March, echoed concerns about the political process. She recalled how the issue of reproductive rights rose to the forefront after changes to federal courts and leadership, noting that the conversation has diversified into a broader set of civil rights concerns. The perceived legal shift was seen as validating a political thesis that had warned about the direction of the court and its impact on abortion access.
Privacy and the First Amendment
As peaceful demonstrations outside the homes of several justices increased in number, tensions rose between protesters and the conservative wing of the political spectrum. White House press messaging stressed the need to respect the nation’s privacy and to allow judges to perform their duties without fearing for their safety. Officials urged the public to separate protest from personal risk while affirming the right to dissent as part of civic life.
For some demonstrators, protecting privacy and civil liberties meant calling out a two-faced political stance. Jeane Newhouse, a 70-year-old participant, argued that harassment of abortion-seekers has persisted for years. They emphasized that peaceful, persistent activism is part of the democratic tradition and that protecting access to clinics is essential to the broader project of equal rights. The fear animated by the potential rollback was described as a return to struggles faced in the 1960s and 1970s, a time when many believed hard-won rights were finally secure. The conversation warned that the effort could broaden to other civil liberties protections, including same-sex marriage and voting rights, should court ideology push further.