'Rally For Women's Rights' Rescheduled Due To Inclement Weather

EAST END, NY — After a controversial Supreme Court decision to overturn Roe v. Wade last week, leaving individual states to make decisions regarding women's reproductive rights, outraged East End residents are set to rally.

The "Rally For Women's Rights" was initially scheduled for Monday but due to a forecast of heavy rain, the event has been rescheduled to Wednesday, June 29, at 5:30 p.m. outside the Suffolk County Supreme Court, located at 1 Court Street in Riverhead. Parking is available on Griffing Avenue.

According to Gordon Herr, Southampton Town Democratic committee chair, confirmed speakers will include New York State Assemblyman Fred Thiele, Suffolk County Legislator Bridget Fleming, Southampton Town Supervisor Jay Schneiderman, Southampton Town Councilmen John Bouvier and Tommy John Schiavoni, East Hampton Town Councilwoman Cate Rogers, East Hampton Town Democratic Committee Vice Chair Anna Skrenta, Southold Democratic Committee Chair Kathryn Casey Quigley others.

A number of other activist groups are co-sponsoring the event, he said.

To sign up for the event, click here.

Herr reflected: "As Speaker Nancy Pelosi said last Friday: 'While Republicans seek to punish and control women, Democrats will keep fighting to protect women's rights. Make no mistake — the rights of women and all Americans are on the ballot this November.'"

And, Herr added, "We need you to participate; democracy is not a spectator sport."

East End residents also rallied in May before the Supreme Court ruled, crying out against the possible overturning of the landmark 1973 Roe v. Wade ruling that allows women access to abortion.

A leaked draft majority opinion to Politico in May suggested the U.S. Supreme Court was poised to overturn the ruling — women's access to abortion will depend on where they live.

Politico reported that it had obtained the draft majority opinion written by conservative Justice Samuel Alito, striking down Roe as well as Planned Parenthood v. Casey, the case that affirmed a woman's right to abortion.

In Riverhead, a group gathered outside the courthouse in May to speak out for women's reproductive rights.

Suffolk County Legislator Bridget Fleming, who has thrown her hat into the proverbial ring to run for Congress in a bid to represent New York's 1st Congressional District, spoke out: "No judge, no politician, no ban should ever block your personal medical decisions or set the course for your life. Here in New York we've had the courage to pass the Reproductive Health Act so women are protected from these encroachments on our basic human rights. But access to abortion should not be based on your income level or your zip code. We must codify Roe at the federal level. It's one of my priorities if elected to Congress."

Those present at the rally carried signs that read "We Won't Go Back," "Notre Dame-Irish Catholic For Choice, No Coney Barrett!" and "Thank You, NY Dems, 4 Reproductive Health Act."

The National Right to Life organization Tweeted after the Supreme Court's decision: "By a vote of 6 to 3, the United States Supreme Court has corrected the most egregious and deadly judicial ruling."