Fear Of Roe v. Wade Reversal Inspires Large Rally In Montclair

MONTCLAIR, NJ — Gathering amid fears that the U.S. Supreme Court may overturn Roe v. Wade, hundreds of people rallied outside a Planned Parenthood center in Montclair on Tuesday in support of abortion rights.

Earlier this week, a leaked, draft U.S. Supreme Court majority opinion, which indicates that the court may overturn Roe v. Wade (1973) and Planned Parenthood v. Casey (1992). Chief Justice John Roberts confirmed Tuesday the opinion – first reported by Politico – is authentic. If the landmark cases are struck down, women's access to abortion could change depending on where they live.

Organizers of the Montclair rally said they were mobilizing to “make their voices heard” amid a growing national outcry.

The event was sponsored by BlueWaveNJ, Make the Road NJ, NJ 11th For Change, NJ Citizen Action, NJ Working Families, Our Revolution NJ, People's Organization for Progress, Planned Parenthood, Summit Marches CD7, and Women for Progress.

Several elected officials and community leaders were present at the Montclair rally, including New Jersey First Lady Tammy Murphy, U.S. Reps. Mikie Sherrill and Donald Payne Jr., and Montclair Mayor Sean Spiller.

The First Lady pointed out that Gov. Phil Murphy signed the Freedom of Reproductive Choice Act into New Jersey law earlier this year. This ensures access to abortions in the Garden State, whether or not the Supreme Court overturns the two cases.

“To be clear, if the court takes this awful, backwards step, this decision will have zero impact on New Jersey state law, or the full right to reproductive freedom under our state law,” Murphy said.

• See related article: Abortion Access Would Remain In New Jersey If Roe v. Wade Overturned

That point was hammered home by Kaitlyn Wojtowicz, vice president of public affairs with the Planned Parenthood Action Fund of New Jersey.

“To be clear: abortion is still legal in New Jersey,” Wojtowicz said. “As of today, it remains your constitutional right, and a right that is protected in New Jersey state law.”

“It is clear that we are at a crisis moment for abortion access,” Wojtowicz added. “We are devastated, we are furious, and we will keep fighting back.”

Spiller said he was “proud to see Montclair come together” at the rally, and said New Jersey has set an example for other states by codifying reproductive rights into law.

Montclair’s two Congressional representatives – Sherrill (District 11) and Payne (District 10) – issued statements about the leaked Supreme Court opinion prior to the rally.

SHERRILL – ““Like many Americans right now, I am shocked by the Supreme Court’s draft decision to overturn Roe v. Wade. The majority of Americans stand behind the reproductive rights enshrined in the landmark 1973 case and reversing it goes against both settled law and the will of the people. Our founders were worried about the tyranny of the majority, but what we now face is a tyranny of the minority: the extreme right has attacked our voting rights, women’s rights, and continues work to undermine our system of democratic elections. The forthcoming partisan opinion - which includes the votes of three Trump appointed justices - carries out a decades-long attack on this constitutional right and a rollback of law that has been settled for half a century. Many of us feared this day would come, but that does not diminish how deeply disturbed I am today as a woman, a mother, and a lawyer. Overturning Roe threatens women’s safety and diminishes their economic future. I will pledge, along with all Americans who value their rights and personal autonomy, to be resolute in my commitment to stand up and protect our freedoms.”

PAYNE – “This absolute travesty is the direct result of the continued radicalism of the Republican Party and its turn to the far right. Now, women across the country are in jeopardy of falling backwards to a dark past when access to a safe abortion procedure was difficult or impossible. I have always been a proud supporter of a woman's right to choose, because I know that we must trust women to make their own healthcare decisions rather than dictating to them. There is a solution to this urgent problem that must happen now. Last September, I joined Democrats in the House of Representatives in passing the Women’s Health Protection Act, legislation that would guarantee the legal right to an abortion nationwide. The U.S. Senate must act now to pass this bill, and if necessary, Senate leaders must abolish the filibuster to allow an up or down vote to be held. There is no other action that would rise to the urgency of this moment than doing whatever it takes to pass this bill. The American people are watching, and they are counting on us to act. We must not let them down.”

• Read More: NJ Politicians React Strongly To Possible Roe v. Wade Reversal
• Read More: Rutgers Law Experts Probe 'Stunning' Supreme Court Abortion Case

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