FEAR AHEAD: “I don’t know what the future is going to be for our youth,” said one grandmother who joined the Washington Square Park rally protesting the reversal of Roe v. Wade by the U.S. Supreme Court. (Photos/Paige Perez)
MANHATTAN — Thousands took to the streets in New York City to demonstrate against the U.S. Supreme Court’s overturning of Roe vs. Wade.
“Not only is it abortion rights today. Just yesterday they overturned our concealed carry law in New York…So my body is unsafe,” said a 21-year-old recent college graduate who added her thoughts to a banner inscribed by many protesters.
In Washington Square Park, the site of a large rally, reporter Paige Perez spoke to protesters about their reaction to hearing that federal protections for abortion rights had been removed after nearly a half-century.
“Well, I’m furious,” said one protester who joined the Washington Square rally. “There’s only so much that you can do by staying at home and crying.
“It’s not shocking given we have so many systems in the U.S. that fail people,” said another protester in Washington Square, where some chants were led by organizers using megaphones. “It wasn’t shocking. But it is still heartbreaking to see.”
For Nichole, a retiree, the Supreme Court ruling translated as: “You don’t have a voice, woman.”
“As a Black woman, I feel like I have been angry for years,” said Bernadette Hagen.
“I have grandbabies. And our generation was afforded all these privileges. And now you just said ‘No. So what? You don’t have a voice, woman,'” said Nichole, a retiree who asked that her last name not be published. “I don’t know what the future is going to be for our youth. I just don’t know.”
Even though the ruling had been anticipated for weeks, the news sparked anger, fear and dread.
“As a Black woman, I feel like I have been angry for years,” said artist Bernadette Hagen, 32. “Upset, disappointed. Not surprised. Just have to keep supporting each other and being hopeful.”
