Abortion Rights Advocates Hold 5 'Stop The Bans' Rallies In MD

MARYLAND — More than 400 "Stop the Bans" rallies are planned Tuesday across all 50 states, including Maryland, as activists and local leaders speak out against measures to ban abortions. There will be five rallies across Maryland on Tuesday, May 21.

The events stem from legislation including a bill that passed last week in Alabama which makes abortion a felony, even in the case of rape or incest.

"In total, at least 15 states have voted to ban abortion in just the past five months," said Karen Nelson, CEO of Planned Parenthood Advocates for DC, Maryland, and NoVA. She cited new laws in Missouri, Alabama, Georgia, Ohio, Kentucky and Mississippi. "It is a coordinated, aggressive and horrifying agenda to ban abortion and overturn Roe v. Wade. And it is in defiance of the American people, whose support for safe and legal abortion is at an all-time high — nearly 73 percent."

Maryland pro-choice advocates said that the state voted in 1992 by referendum to codify the Roe. v. Wade ruling into law, meaning the Free State would continue to protect women's right to abortion regardless of what happens elsewhere.

"Marylanders are fortunate because state laws guarantee our access to abortion. However today we join our voices to speak out against the growing number of states that are passing abortion restrictions at an unprecedented pace," Nelson said in a statement. "We must stand together, challenge the assumptions of a few small-minded politicians, and fight to protect reproductive healthcare for all.

Annapolis, Baltimore, Frederick, Columbia and Rockville will hold rallies to show their support for reproductive freedom as part of the National Day of Action to Stop the Bans.

These are the rally locations in Maryland. All events are slated for 6 p.m. on Tuesday, May 21:

• Annapolis: 34 Calvert Street, Annapolis, MD 21401
• Baltimore: 100 Holliday Street, Baltimore, MD 21202
• Columbia: 10275 Little Patuxent, Columbia, MD 21044
• Frederick: 12 E. Church St., Frederick, MD 21701
• Rockville: 100 Maryland Avenue, Rockville MD, 20910

Among the rally sponsors are NARAL Pro-Choice Maryland, Maryland National Organization for Women (MDNOW), Baltimore Women United, Reproductive Justice Inside, ACLU of Maryland, March on Maryland, Not Without Black Women, Women’s Democratic Club of Montgomery County, Baltimore Abortion Fund, Women’s Coalition for Action (Frederick), Association of Black Democrats of Montgomery County, Baltimore Doula Project, Anne Arundel Huddle Network and Planned Parenthood Advocates for DC, Maryland, and NoVA.

Visit www.StopAbortionBans.org for more information on the #StopTheBans National Day of Action.

• MD Comptroller Urges Divesting From Alabama Over Abortion Ban
• Abortion Foes Mount Direct Roe V. Wade Challenges

Patch editor Tony Cantu contributed to this report.