That’s the sounds of a shouting match between two men and about 30 women at an abortion rights rally outside Smith Wills Stadium in Jackson, Saturday. The pair, along with several other men had been on Lakeland Drive for a while carrying signs, one of which said “Repent or Perish.” They didn’t want to share their names.
“We’re not out here preaching sermons. We’re out here coming against murder and we’re coming against sodomy,”
Earlier during the Capital City Pride event inside the stadium speakers talked about LGBTQ and abortion rights. Michelle Colon is with SHERO a black women’s reproductive justice rights coalition. She thinks Mississippi’s 15 week abortion ban case will have lasting implications.
“Abortion freedom is on it’s last leg. I do firmly believe that the Supreme Court is going to overturn Roe v. Wade and if that’s happens that’s going to leave the entire south without an abortion provider. And this goes beyond clinics. This means there will be no abortions whatsoever,” Colon said.
Colon says they’re helping women with the “morning after pill,” educating them about safe self abortions and working with abortion care providers in other states. Saturday women's’ marches were held in other cities across the country in support of abortion rights. Kate Maloney is with Campaign for Abortion Free Cities. She said her group wasn’t welcome at those demonstrations so members gathered outside the stadium.
“Pro-Life women aren’t accepted in the women’s march. We’re not seen and so it’s hard to be truly inclusive in a women’s march when you’re excluding other women who disagree with your point of view. We’re out here to provide a presence for pre-born women who have a right to their own bodies. We believe body autonomy begins in the womb,” Maloney said.
The U.S. Supreme Court is scheduled to hear oral arguments over Mississippi’s 15-week Abortion Ban in December.
