For the second time since the U.S. Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade, protesters gathered in Memorial Park on Sunday demanding access to safe and legal abortions.
Although Sunday’s crowd of a few hundred was smaller than Friday’s protest, which drew more than 1,000 people to the park, the energy was about the same. Chants of “my body my choice,” “hey hey, ho ho, the abortion ban must go” and “f — Pete Ricketts” echoed through Dodge Street as passing cars honked and the motorcyclists revved the engines apparently in support.
The rally began at 6 p.m. and the group first marched on the Memorial Park sidewalk at 52nd Street before returning to the park. Around 7:45 p.m., they headed for 72nd and Dodge Streets.
The Supreme Court, in an opinion released Friday, struck down Roe v. Wade, the landmark decision that cemented abortion as a constitutional right nearly 50 years ago. Friday’s decision leaves the regulation of abortion to the states. In Nebraska, abortion is still legal up to 20 weeks after fertilization.
People also read…
A leaked draft notice published in early May indicated that the court was prepared to overrule Roe. But even with the warning, protesters said the news was still shocking.
“We knew it was coming, but still, it’s exhausting,” said Jen McEvoy, 52, who attended the protest with her daughter Lillian. “There is overwhelming support in this country for abortion rights, and yet it has been withdrawn by this bogus tribunal that was chosen specifically to overturn this issue.”
Others said their first reaction was despair.
“I discovered it at work,” said 19-year-old Nicole Sandquist. “We cried together in solidarity, all the women in my workplace. It was a very solemn day.”
Some gathered Sunday stressed the importance of voting and electing lawmakers who support abortion rights in Nebraska and nationally.
Abortion opponents, including Nebraska Governor Pete Ricketts and Lincoln Speaker of the Legislative Assembly Mike Hilgers, announced the Supreme Court’s decision, saying it properly referred the matter to the states.
“The Supreme Court’s decision to overturn Roe is an answer to millions of prayers on behalf of the unborn child and a victory for human life,” Ricketts said in a statement Friday.
Ricketts and Hilgers said they would work together on a possible special session this summer to examine abortion restrictions. Earlier this year, the legislature narrowly failed to pass a so-called trigger ban, which would have banned abortion if Roe v. Wade.
Abortion rights protests are expected to continue this week, with rallies planned in Omaha and Lincoln on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Saturday.
Alex Bazer, 19, said she thinks people coming together to show their support are important.
“We won’t take this lightly,” she said. “We won’t stay here and let them take this away from us, especially how long we’ve been fighting just to have basic human rights like everyone else.”
Our best Omaha staff photos and videos from June 2022
A deer watches a fallen tree on Terry Avenue near Sherry Drive in Bellevue, Nebraska on Wednesday. A storm hit overnight, bringing strong winds.
CHRIS MACHIAN THE HERald OF THE WORLD
Rick Trapani cleans out a storm sewer after a car got stuck in floodwaters near 40th and Valley Street in Omaha on Tuesday. Rain and hail from a storm bombarded the area.
Chris Machian The Herald of the World
A sea lion swims under debris from trees that washed ashore Tuesday in the Owen Sea Lion Shores exhibit at the Henry Doorly Zoo and Aquarium in Omaha. A hailstorm the night before shredded the leaves of many plants in parts of Omaha, Nebraska, leaving piles of plant debris. “I’m sure some of the animals were surprised by the storm, like the rest of us, but they don’t care about the debris and the ‘mess’ as much as we humans do. For many animals, the leaves and twigs, as pictured with sea lions, are considered enrichment and new things to explore,” said Dennis Schnurbusch, senior vice president and chief operating officer of Henry Doorly Zoo and Aquarium d ‘Omaha.
Chris Machian The Herald of the World
Jerry Swiercek uses a leaf blower to clear hail and leaves torn from trees following a hailstorm outside the home he shares with his wife, Annette, on 44th Ave and St. F at Omaha on Tuesday night.
ANNA REED/THE HERALD OF THE WORLD
Haydn Nichols, 9, rides the musical chairs ride during Taste of Omaha at Elmwood Park in Omaha on Friday.
LILY SMITH THE HERald OF THE WORLD
Andrea Vanderheyden, the artist behind this community art project, ties a ribbon to help create a pride flag on the corner of the Ashton Building on Tuesday to kick off Pride Month.
MEGAN NIELSEN, WORLD HERALD
A man sprays on the roof of a nearby building while filming the scene of a three-alarm fire at Nox-Crete, Inc., 1415 S. 20th St Monday.
CHRIS MACHIAN THE HERald OF THE WORLD
Flames leap from the scene of a three-alarm fire at Nox-Crete, Inc., 1415 S. 20th St Monday.
CHRIS MACHIAN THE HERald OF THE WORLD
Lighting can be seen backstage at a three-alarm fire at Nox-Crete, Inc., 1415 S. 20th St Monday.
CHRIS MACHIAN THE HERald OF THE WORLD
Drone photography after a three-alarm fire at the Nox-Crete chemical warehouse in Omaha on Tuesday.
ANNA REED/THE HERALD OF THE WORLD
Ben Crawford, Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Law Assistant with the Winnebago Tribal Historic Preservation Office, watches the dogs search the cemetery site.
ANNA REED, THE HERald OF THE WORLD
