Hundreds Protest For Reproductive Rights In Downtown Tuscaloosa

TUSCALOOSA, AL — Several hundred protestors circled the federal courthouse in downtown Tuscaloosa on Monday, chanting slogans such as "Codify Roe" and "Bans off our body."

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Tuscaloosa Action — a local grassroots activism group that often demonstrates in support of progressive social issues — along with Alabama Rally Against Injustice and the Tuscaloosa Democratic Party came together for the event in the wake of Roe v. Wade being overturned by the U.S. Supreme Court. It was just one of numerous rallies held Monday across the state.

As Patch previously reported, the decision by the nation's highest court repealed the federal mandate for states to allow abortions. For Alabama, its 2019 abortion ban went into effect almost immediately after a judge in Montgomery lifted an injunction the same day the ruling was handed down by the Supreme Court.

The only exceptions provided in Alabama's law allows for abortions if the mother's life is in danger as a result of the pregnancy or if the mother is clinically diagnosed as suicidal.

Tuscaloosa Action organizer Emily Altman held a megaphone and led the protestors in chants, speaking out against the new law of the land.

"In a state where it has one of the worst maternal mortality rates, one of the worst infant mortality rates and over half of our counties don't have access to good maternal care," she told Patch on Monday. "It's really irresponsible and deadly to force people to carry pregnancies ... Abortions should be safe and accessible for everybody."

ALSO READ: Dogma & Demons: The Day Roe V. Wade Was Overturned In Alabama

Robin Marty, director of operations at the West Alabama Women's Center, said the clinic plans to reopen on July 11 after immediately closing its doors in the wake of the news that Roe v. Wade had been overturned. Prior to doing so, it was considered as the busiest abortion clinic in the state.

But it's worth noting the center is much more than an abortion clinic.

The West Alabama Women's Center is a full-spectrum reproductive health center that provides birth control options, telehealth consultations for non-abortion related procedures and "gender-affirming, evidence-based preventative reproductive health services."

Unable to see the video link? Click here to watch our coverage from the protest.

Marty told Patch that the clinic typically sees 200 patients a month, but in the last several months ahead of the Supreme Court's ruling, she said that number was closer to 300 patients a month.

"We have had an increase in people wanting birth control ever since the draft memo, and especially IUDs recently," she said, referring to the leaked draft of the opinion regarding Roe v. Wade. "We are accepting Medicaid and offer sliding scale services for the uninsured and under insured. We also offer early prenatal care for those who can't get into a doctor because it takes so long to get accepted onto the Medicaid program for those who are pregnant, and many doctors won't accept new patients until they have verified their insurance."

As Patch previously reported, approximately 100 women seeking access to abortions were immediately impacted when the clinic was forced to close its doors and had their appointments canceled.

Despite the uncertainty and fear, though, Marty said the West Alabama Women's Center will remain one of the only resources for prenatal care and women's reproductive health in Alabama.

Part of this effort, she said, will see the clinic implement a "pay what you can" policy when it reopens, before going on to encourage those in the community to access the prescription emergency contraceptive Ella if they are worried about getting pregnant amid this new reality for women across the country.

"It works more effectively than Plan B or other over the counter generics, especially for those of higher body mass indexes," she explained. "Since pharmacies are limiting emergency contraceptive purchases right now, we want to make sure people have the most effective and affordable option available before they actually need it, and also before the state legislature decides to ban that next."

Marty was somewhat sheepish at first when she addressed the large crowd gathered on the sidewalk along University Boulevard, but her passion came to the surface as she described the last couple of weeks and what the West Alabama Women's Center plans to do to continue providing the best non-abortion services possible to the women of the area.

"When we come back, we will be open and we will have birth control because you can't get it here," she shouted. "We will have IUDs because no doctor will do them, and most importantly, we're going to be there for the prenatal care that this city is not going to follow up on."

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