Roe V. Wade Leaked Decision Prompts McLean Student Walkout

MCLEAN, VA — Chants of "my body, my choice" and "abortion is health care" rang out Monday afternoon as McLean High School students walked out in support of abortion rights.

The protest outside McLean High School was part of a Statewide Student Day of Action for Abortion Access organized by Generation Ratify Virginia, a youth-led organization advocating for abortion rights. Over 40 Virginia schools were expected to have walkouts.

Leah Siegel, a student organizer and McLean High School senior, had thought about organizing something with friends in response to the Supreme Court's draft majority opinion was leaked. Then McLean High School organizers learned about Generation Ratify VA's efforts to organize walkouts at Virginia schools Monday and joined the effort.

Generation Ratify VA's student walkouts called for federal and state measures to codify Roe v. Wade and amplify student voices about bodily autonomy. Siegel told Patch students can be vocal about these issues, as some are eligible to vote or will be in several years.

"I think it's so important because we need to show people and show the government especially that students are watching," said Siegel.

See video of the McLean High School walkout.

The protest centered around the leaked document that showed that the Supreme Court justices were going to strike down Roe v. Wade, the decision that has protected abortion access since the 1970s. However, student organizers noted Roe v. Wade wasn't an end-all to abortion rights. Siegel brought up the Hyde Amendment, which prohibits use of federal Medicaid funds for abortion unless the mother's life is at risk or in rape or incest cases.

"It has never been accessible to the poor women, to the poor people across America because they could never afford it," Siegel told students. "Insurance never covered it. The federal government never funded it. It was never accessible, and now it will be even less accessible."

Virginia does not have an anti-abortion law that would be triggered if the Supreme Court overturns Roe V. Wade. Siegel said even if abortion became illegal in Virginia, residents of Northern Virginia could easily travel to DC. But Siegel expressed concerns about people in places where abortion would become illegal and harder to access.

SEE ALSO: Abortion To Remain Legal In VA If Roe V. Wade Overturned

Student organizers noted abortion isn't just a women's issue, pointing to the inclusion of transgender and non-binary people in abortion rights.

Other participating Fairfax County high schools with walkouts Monday were Centreville, Chantilly, Herndon, James Madison, Langley, Marshall, South Lakes, Thomas Jefferson, Westfield and Woodson.

Siegel encouraged students to continue showing up to support abortion rights and support local, independent abortion clinics, such as the DC Abortion Fund and Virginia Abortion Fund.

"Planned Parenthood gets hundreds of millions of dollars. It's the local funds that need help," said Seigel.