Second abortion rights protest in Jefferson City attracts more supporters

Roughly 1,000 people marked they would be attending an abortion rights protest at the federal courthouse in Jefferson City on Sunday, July 3, 2022, and several hundred showed up. Organizers used the opportunity to share personal stories related to abortion, connect women with resources and register voters. (Ryan Pivoney/News Tribune photo)
Roughly 1,000 people marked they would be attending an abortion rights protest at the federal courthouse in Jefferson City on Sunday, July 3, 2022, and several hundred showed up. Organizers used the opportunity to share personal stories related to abortion, connect women with resources and register voters. (Ryan Pivoney/News Tribune photo)


Abortion rights supporters are more organized and fired up a week after the the U.S. Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade and Missouri outlawed abortion.

Hundreds of abortion rights supporters rallied at the federal courthouse in Jefferson City on Sunday to bring attention to the issue and connect women and voters with information and resources to navigate family planning services.

With water, snacks and signs provided, speakers took turns sharing personal stories about how they shaped their perspective on abortion as attendees registered to vote and signed up to volunteer with family planning organizations.

About 1,000 people indicated they would attend the protest on Facebook, and several hundred showed up.

"We're guessing about 500 people, which for Jefferson City would be amazing," said Macayla Montgomery, a Jefferson City resident and protest organizer. "We don't have a lot of big protests out here."

Another abortion rights protest with a couple dozen attendees was held in Jefferson City the weekend after the state outlawed the procedure. The most recent event was noticeably larger and more organized.

Montgomery said she wanted to lead a protest in the Capital City to confront Missouri lawmakers with the new reality for women living in the state.

"The Roe v. Wade overturning was a mistake. It put lots of people in danger," she said. "It was absolutely a terrible decision and we are here to talk about why we want to overturn it and why it is immoral, and why a majority is on our side."

According to a Pew Research poll conducted in March, 61 percent of Americans say abortion should be legal in all or most cases and 37 percent say abortion should be illegal in all or most cases.

Hadley McNeill, of Jefferson City, said she attended the protest because she felt it was her duty to advocate for women's rights.

"I think it's especially important because the 4th of July is coming up and so many people are wanting to celebrate our nation, but how can we celebrate freedom when we don't have the freedom to choose with our own bodies," she said. "That's something that I struggle with as a concept, so we're out here doing it this weekend on purpose to prove extra hard that we want our voices heard."

McNeill said she's hopeful the public protests will impact legislative change, prove some points and cement abortion rights in the Constitution.

April Detienne, of Fulton, told the crowd they should be angry.

"If we comply in any way to this, we are set up for our own doom," she said. "We do not get to stop fighting just because we're tired. We've been tired our entire lives and for generations before us, and none of those women stopped fighting and neither will we."

Detienne, 50, is a human trafficking survivor and participates in speaking events around the state to share her experience. She said protests are important because they give a voice to people who may not have one anymore.

Detienne said Sunday's turnout was "a beautiful start" and she was happy to see men and younger generations join in. But there needs to be continued effort while there's momentum, she cautioned.

"They're going to think that we comply and they're just going to continue to make whatever laws they want and that's terrifying to me," she said. "Starting with one law means we're coming for others and if people don't start making some noise we're going to be in trouble, I'm afraid."

Detienne and Montgomery said they were concerned Missouri lawmakers may target women who travel across state borders for abortions and contraceptives with new restrictions following the latest action on abortions.

Montgomery is co-founder of Missouri People for Reproductive Rights, which has branches in Jefferson City and Columbia.

She said work right now is more focused on connecting people with avenues to get safe, legal abortions, such as connecting them to abortion clinics in other states or order abortion pills to their homes. The organization is also connecting supporters with volunteer opportunities.

Volunteering through charities and abortion organizations is the best course of action for supporters, Montgomery said, because it helps women directly.

"After this one we're just going to keep organizing and keep doing it until more and more people know about it and come out and join us," Montgomery said.

  photo  Roughly 1,000 people marked they would be attending an abortion rights protest at the federal courthouse in Jefferson City on Sunday, July 3, 2022, and several hundred showed up. Organizers used the opportunity to share personal stories related to abortion, connect women with resources and register voters. (Photo by Ryan Pivoney/News Tribune)
  
  photo   Roughly 1,000 people marked they would be attending an abortion rights protest at the federal courthouse in Jefferson City on Sunday, July 3, 2022, and several hundred showed up. Organizers used the opportunity to share personal stories related to abortion, connect women with resources and register voters. (Photo by Ryan Pivoney/News Tribune)