Hundreds march through Downtown Columbia protesting Dobbs v. Jackson ruling
COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)
Hundreds gathered at Boone County Courthouse Saturday evening chanting "We won't go back," and "Vote them out," to protest Friday's Dobbs v. Jackson ruling.
This comes as Friday's U.S Supreme Court 5-4 decision in favor of overturning Roe v. Wade has caused many Americans to protest and express whether they are pro-abortion or anti-abortion.
Leaders of the event say it's a part of "Nationwide Day of Action" and is one more than 200 events taking place in various cities nationwide including New York City, Austin, Chicago, Los Angeles and Washington, DC.
Emily Wales, CEO and president of Planned Parenthood Great Plains, attended Saturday's event.
"There was a moment of grief and frustration and today we are channeling it into action," Wales said.
Wales said Planned Parenthood had to cancel many abortion appointments since the ruling came down yesterday. Missouri was the first state to put a trigger law into effect following the ruling.
Missouri's trigger law was passed in 2019 and enacted yesterday when Attorney General Eric Schmitt signed an opinion to activate the law. Gov. Mike Parson also signed a proclamation to do the same. The law bans abortions in Missouri with an exception for when the mother's life is in danger.
Sen. Josh Hawley (R-Missouri) said he is happy with the high court's decision, which his wife had a hand in litigating. However, Hawley does not completely agree with Missouri's trigger law -- particularly the lack of exemptions.
"I personally said I support exceptions for rape, incest and life of the mother," Hawley said.
However, Hawley said he leaves state law to the state lawmakers.
Friday, ABC 17 News talked to various lawmakers and community members to get their reactions.
"Well first of all it's constitutional. Our constitution does not give anyone the right to an abortion. Our constitution actually doesn't give a right to health care, it doesn't address those kinds of things. Our constitution says the state has that authority. The federal government should have never had their hand in it to begin with," said Bonnie Lee, anti-abortion activist.
Columbia Community member, Ricki Roscoe says she is hopeful things could change. "I don't think it's over, I think people are going to come out and protest... they're going to show up, they're going to support organizations, they'll donate and they'll vote. Hopefully, this won't be the reality for long," said Roscoe.
