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Rally held in West Palm Beach to fight Roe v. Wade reversal

Group gathers outside federal courthouse to fight for 'legal right'
Lois Frankel speaks to protesters opposed to reversal of Roe v. Wade at federal courthouse in West Palm Beach
Posted at 9:52 PM, May 03, 2022
and last updated 2022-05-04 08:25:51-04

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. — Demonstrators chanted with a shared message Tuesday outside the federal courthouse in West Palm Beach, making sure their voices were heard.

"Abortion is health care. It is a legal right," Laura Goodhue, of Florida Alliance of Planned Parenthood Affiliates, said.

The League of Women Voters and Planned Parenthood rallied in response to an unprecedented leak indicating the Supreme Court is prepared to overturn Roe v. Wade.

"Thirty days, once Roe v. Wade has overturned, 30 states in this country will automatically ban abortions," U.S. Rep. Lois Frankel, D-Fla., said.

Many gathered Tuesday said they worry about access to abortions and reproductive rights if the high court indeed overturns the 1973 ruling.

RELATED: Planned Parenthood concerned about future of abortion rights

They said the decision should be left to doctors and their patients, not politicians and judges.

"I honestly believe if men could get pregnant, you could get an abortion anywhere else," one woman said.

Willy Guardiola, with Palm Beach Right to Life, said if the final decision is to overturn Roe v. Wade, it's a decision long overdue. But he added that his work will not end there.

"This is going to be all hell," he said. "This is where the fight really begins."

Guardiola expects Florida to move toward an abortion ban if given the opportunity.

"If we don't ban abortions, guess what? Mississippi, Alabama and Georgia, they're all going to say, 'Let's go to Florida. They have 56 abortion clinics. Let's go have abortions there,'" he said.

The group who gathered at the federal courthouse is calling for national marches on May 14.