By Tasmin McGill and Daniel Langhorne
About 200 people rallied in support of women’s reproductive rights at Main Beach Park on Friday evening, following the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision to overturn women’s constitutional right to abortion.
Planned Parenthood of Orange & San Bernardino Counties hosted the rally in conjunction with protests across Southern California. Protesters hoisted colorful signs with slogans reading “Abort the Supreme Court” and “Keep your policies off my body”.
Huntington Beach resident Bryanna Guzman said the court’s decision feels like a war on women.
“I’ve had an abortion before and if I wasn’t able to get one, that would’ve killed me,” she said.
“They are saying abortion isn’t a part of the American history, well yes, it’s not a part of the deep history, but it is a part of the history moving forward. Now they’re taking that away,” Laguna Hills resident Della Gray said.
California’s top elected officials swiftly responded saying they will defend abortion rights in the Golden State.
“I want you to know this SCOTUS ruling does not change your rights in California. Abortion remains fully legal in our state,” State Attorney General Rob Bonta said in Tweet Friday.
Some pro-choice advocates are incorrectly stating that the Supreme Court’s decision makes abortions illegal, Laguna Beach GOP president Emil Monda said Friday.
“What the Supreme Court did was turn the issue back to the voters of every single state. That’s what we call democracy. In California, there will be no difference. In other states, there will be a difference. Putting it back to the voters is a good thing,” Monda said.
Supreme Court observers knew the decision was coming but it was still a shock, said Gwen McNallan, president of the Laguna Beach Democratic Club.
“It’s super depressing but what else can we do but fight,” she said. “This is the minority speaking out of the highest court in the land. It’s really sad.”
Photojournalist Mitch Ridder contributed reporting.
This story is developing and will be updated as necessary.
When I was young in 1971 it was tough to buy condoms, much less get a prescription for birth control pills. And anti spermicides, diaphrams, and the morning after pill weren’t options. I flew to New York for a legal procedure. Now, women, families, have a dozen options without having to terminate a late pregnancy. Let’s be clear – this is a moral issue and those screaming weasles parading around foaming at the mouth are pure narcisists who lack morality values. Why is it we, the thinking people, always have to cow-tow to ‘the progressives”. Just because it’s new doesn’t mean it’s forward thinking or correct. SCOTUS stopped a Federal mandate and returned it to the States. If ‘We the People’ want abortion anywhere anytime they’ll vote in legislatures to enact new law. And the Laguna Crew can will their fortunes to Planned Parenthood to assuage their guilt.
I’m continually confused as to why local Laguna millionaires act out like this? Do these morons actually think that people in States that didn’t legalize abortion (Oklahoma, Mississippi, Utah, Wyoming, Texas, Ohio, and Wisconsin) actually care about their tasteless foolish behavior?k Just because they think they’re groovier than the others, I’m agasht at their athiestness.
A lot of propaganda around this makes it look like SCOTUS banned abortions. It is not true. It simply returned the issue to the legislative bodies of our country. It’s a deeply moral issue, yes. I went to the Mozambique the other night and saw a woman with the Down Syndrome dancing among other people and she was so happy. She wants to be alive no matter what. But many parents kill such future people before they are even born to “avoid the hassle” and have their own lives in order. At the same time I understand how difficult it is to have your life focused around raising kids. But if we keep “promoting” abortions as an “essential medical procedure” this will not be good for the whole society. Better promote contraception and educate young people about life-changing decisions.
Hi Mike, When I was pregnant with my first child I developed a life-threatening condition, my resting heart rate was 180 and my daughter was stillborn because I had a stroke in the placenta. I then had to carry the dead baby and was given drugs to deliver but ended up having to have a cesarean. Fortunately I was a 31 year old married woman a the time and had access to proper healthcare without the intervention of the Justice Department and was able to go on and have 2 healthy children, now grown and educated. But sure, it’s all about the “hassle” of being pregnant. Especially if you are 10 and a rape victim. I may have died from my pregnancy. A beautiful young woman I know died recently during childbirth, in a hospital, with prenatal care. It still happens. Pregnancy is not a “hassle”, but it is an extreme physical event with life-changing emotional consequences. Maybe your pregnancy experience was different? But I’m guessing you are a man and have never been, nor will you ever be, pregnant. Maybe I can look through your healthcare decisions and decide what’s best for you?