Mississippians rally in Jackson as Supreme Court hears Dobbs case

The Supreme Court is hearing a case that challenges Mississippi’s 15-week abortion ban, and activists in the state are speaking out. In Jackson, several protests were held.

At a park just blocks away from the state’s capitol building, nearly 200 people gathered to demand the supreme court strike down the abortion ban. While abortion rights supporters spoke at the podium to share their stories, several counter-protesters also arrived at the event with anti-abortion rights signs and portable speakers.

Michelle Colon, Executive Director of the Mississippi-based abortion rights advocacy group SHERo, led the rally. She says the court may be poised to overturn Roe v. Wade, but says her work will continue no matter the court’s ruling.

“For me I don’t think I ever will. I can’t. And that’s the reason why what I will continue to do and what SHERo will continue to do is help individual pregnant people who are seeking abortion care get that care. History has shown us that women have been having abortions for eons. That’s not going to stop.”

Across town, a small group of people gathered to listen to the court’s arguments and watched a webcast of an anti-abortion rights rally on the steps of the Supreme Court where many state officials gave speeches. Omarr Peters with Students for Life has been working with the state Attorney General’s Office to engage with students on the topic of abortion.

“I’m proud that the state is a leader in something good, in something positive. For years I’ve heard only bad things about the state, the state’s obese, the state has a bad civil history, but I’m proud we’re a leader in life.”

The court will not rule on the case until next year.