Milwaukee Marchers Protest Leaked Supreme Court Abortion Draft

Ava Lonnebotn, a 20-year-old UW-Milwaukee student spent her Saturday afternoon surrounded by a sea of angry people holding signs, and chanting. It was a beautiful sunny day, and the energy on Wisconsin Avenue was high.

People gathered around on the sidewalks creating signs and conversing with one another. There was a table lined with snacks and drinks for the protesters that attended. Ava watched as a mother with three children walked up to the table to grab some snacks and something to drink.

“It’s so cool to see this many different types of people out supporting the same cause,” said Ava Lonnebotn. “This is such a serious topic, and if we can all rally together, we could really help make a change.”

This Saturday the Party for Socialism Liberation-Milwaukee and Milwaukee’s International Women’s Day Coalition held a rally that started at Planned Parenthood on Wisconsin Avenue and ended at the U.S. Courthouse. Protesters marched down Wisconsin Ave. chanting and cheering.

The rally was held in light of the recent draft leak of the Supreme Court’s decision to overturn Roe v. Wade. If the Supreme Court does strike down Roe v. Wade, the legality of abortion would be determined state-by-state.

“It’s on us to keep up the momentum and pressure on the state to meet these demands,” statement from Party of Socialism and Liberation-Milwaukee. “We will march, educate, and engage our communities on reproductive rights, and uplift abortion support networks.”

If this leak is accurate, Wisconsin’s law dates back to 1849, which would make abortions illegal here in the state of Wisconsin. This law provides no exceptions for rape or incest. Doctors who perform abortions could be charged with felonies and $10,000 fines.

“I truly can’t believe we are living in a time where something like this is even being questioned,” said UWM student Sami Marx. “If they take this right away, who knows what could be taken away next.”

This was the second rally held here in Milwaukee. This first was held on Wednesday May 4. The march that was held on Saturday had a turnout of around 400 people. The protesters walked 1.8 miles through downtown Milwaukee.

“The turn out here today was great, but this is only the start,” said member of the Milwaukee’s International Women’s Day Coalition, Amanda Ortner. “We need people to keep showing up. We will not be stopped. We will not be silenced. The next generations of women depend on it.”

There is another rally being held by the same organizations next Saturday, May 14. The slogan for these marches is “No rest when our rights are under attack.” If you would like to attend the upcoming events, you can find them on Facebook by searching Milwaukee’s International Women’s Day Coalition or Party of Socialism and Liberation-Milwaukee.