Supreme Court Justice's Fairfax County Home Draws Protest

FORT HUNT, VA — After a leaked draft opinion indicated the Supreme Court plans to overturn the 1973 Roe v. Wade decision on abortion rights, protesters showed up outside Justice Samuel Alito's Fairfax County home Monday.

Fairfax County police spokesperson James Curry told Patch in an email that around 100 people gathered around Alito's Fort Hunt home Monday evening. While police responded to the scene, the demonstrations were peaceful, police said. There were no arrests.

"Officers remained on scene to ensure the safety of the participants, our community members and the roadways until the crowd dispersed on their own," said Curry in the email.

Gov. Glenn Youngkin commented on the protest, noting the state's coordination with Fairfax County Police, Virginia State Police and federal authorities to prevent violence.

Monday's protest in support of abortion rights followed protests over the weekend outside the homes of Chief Justice John Roberts and Justice Brett Kavanaugh in Chevy Chase, Maryland. Politico, which first leaked the document, noted that Alito wrote the draft majority opinion in support of overturning Roe v. Wade. The protest outside Alito's home drew signs reading "Repro Freedom for All" and chants such as "our body, our rights, our right to decide” and "abort the court," according to Politico.

The protests outside justices' homes have resulted in a debate about protesting outside homes of public officials. Some Virginia officials have chimed in.

"Do NOT. I repeat DO NOT go to private homes to protest," Loudoun County Board Chair Phyllis Randall tweeted. "Families of public people have the right to feel safe in their homes. Families, esp minor children ARE OFF LIMITS."

"I couldn’t agree more," responded state Sen. John Bell (D-Loudoun). "Homes and families of public officials should be off limit. I didn’t agree with it when [former Attorney General Mark Herring] had his home invaded & I don’t agree now."

SEE ALSO:

• VA High School Students Walk Out Over Roe V. Wade Leaked Decision
• Abortion To Remain Legal In VA If Roe V. Wade Overturned