A third day of demonstrations is scheduled in downtown Los Angeles Sunday as the outcry continues against the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision to overturn federal abortion protections provided under Roe v. Wade.
The groups The Feminist Front and Generation Ratify are calling for protesters to wear green to the rally at 1 p.m. Sunday at Grand Park, 200 N. Grand Ave.
The Feminist Front describes itself on Twitter as “young people uniting 15-35 years olds to fight white supremacist patriarchy, from the roots up.” Generation Ratify lists itself as “The youth-led movement to ratify the Equal Rights Amendment and advance gender justice in the United States.”
The rally comes on the heels of two days of demonstrations following the U.S. Supreme Court 5-4 decision Friday to overturn 1973’s Roe v. Wade ruling.
Two large demonstrations were held Saturday at Grand Park, which drew at least a couple hundred people before noon, and another outside the federal courthouse on First Street attended by hundreds more.
Another rally was held outside the Federal Building in Westwood.
Similar demonstrations have been held across the nation and other Southland communities including Hollywood, West Hollywood, Long Beach, Fullerton, Irvine and parts of Riverside and San Diego counties.
As with previous downtown L.A. rallies, participants held homemade signs with messages including “Ban Guns, Not Abortions,” “Mind Your Own Uterus” and “My Body, My Choice.”
Many said they just needed a place to be with like-minded people and vent their frustration — and disappointment.
“It gives people hope — hope in numbers,” 22-year-old Jessi Martinez of Santa Monica told the Los Angeles Times Saturday.
Some of Saturday’s downtown demonstrators spilled onto nearby freeways, the Los Angeles Police Department said in a series of tweets:
— 3:42 p.m. – “Pedestrian demonstrators have now entered the 101 Freeway off-ramp from Broadway Avenue. Avoid the area and use alternate routes if possible.”
— 3:59 p.m. – “The 101 freeway off ramp has been cleared. Pedestrians demonstrators are now westbound 1st street from Main Street.” The LAPD advised motorists to avoid the area and use alternate routes if possible.
— 5:19 p.m. – “Pedestrian demonstrators are now westbound 7th Street From Broadway Avenue.”
— 8:57 p.m. – “The crowds have dispersed and the flow of traffic has been restored. We again would like to thank the men and women who worked long hours to ensure citizens were able to exercise their 1st Amendment right.”
On Friday, hundreds of protesters gathered downtown in the hours after the Supreme Court announced its decision. The demonstrations were largely peaceful, but some skirmishes with Los Angeles police officers were reported, prompting the department to declare an unlawful assembly and issue a temporary citywide tactical alert to clear the streets.
No arrests were reported Saturday but media reports indicated at least one person was arrested Friday.
Thank you for posting protest marches when’s and where’s. Grateful to make my voice heard.