Massachusetts

Numerous Rallies Across Mass. Following Roe v. Wade Decision

Gov. Charlie Baker, a Republican, signed an executive order in the aftermath of the ruling that will protect access to reproductive health care services in the Bay State

By Jake Levin • •

NBC Universal, Inc.

On the first full day without federal abortion rights in the United States in 50 years, there were rallies across the country for women’s rights, including in Boston.

Several communities in Massachusetts held rallies Saturday in the aftermath of the U.S. Supreme Court's decision to overturn Roe v. Wade.

Access to abortion in Massachusetts remains legal for up to and in some cases beyond 24 weeks, but with many states having enacted total bans following the ruling at the federal level, protestors are letting their voices be heard.

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"Roe v. Wade has been overturned and abortion is now illegal in half the country," the Boston Socialist Alternative said in a statement on Friday. "The right wing is on the offensive and only a mass movement from below has the power to halt this all-out attack on women and LGBTQ people. We need to protest, walk out, occupy and strike to send the message to the courts, the right wing, and both major parties that we won’t tolerate these attacks any longer!"

Gov. Charlie Baker, a Republican, signed an executive order in the aftermath of the ruling that will protect access to reproductive health care services in the Bay State.

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One day after the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade, Rep. Lori Trahan told NBC10 Boston that the fight is just beginning. Trahan says the SCOTUS decision will impact millions of women and that Massachusetts will play a key role, becoming a "save haven state." While abortion will stay legal in the Bay State, a number of others are already planning to ban it, which is why Massachusetts needs to think pragmatically about how it can be helpful to all those women who can no longer access abortion care, Trahan said.

"We're going to do everything we can here in Massachusetts," Sen. Elizabeth Warren said, "but the forces that brought us this day are continuing to gather, are continuing to exercise their muscle. They will not rest until they ban abortion across this nation. This is the fight we are in."

The following rallies were confirmed for Saturday:

  • Newburyport, Bartlett Mall Courthouse, 10 a.m.
  • Quincy: March Forward Quincy, Hancock Adams Common, noon
  • Boston: RiseUp4AbortionRights Rally/March, State House steps, 1 p.m.
  • Hyannis, Hyannis Airport Rotary, 1 p.m.
  • Falmouth, Falmouth Village Green, 1:30 p.m.
Abortion rights activists spent their first full day in post-Roe America protesting outside the Supreme Court, vowing to turn their anger into action to ensure people have access to abortion care in states where it's still legal. A woman from Hingham, Massachusetts, who happened to be vacationing in Washington DC when the decision came down Friday says she fears the country is headed back to the time before SCOTUS ruled on Roe in 1973.

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MassachusettsCharlie BakerElizabeth Warren
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