LOCAL

Augustans react: News of Roe v Wade repeal cheered by some, reviled by others

Miguel Legoas
Augusta Chronicle

Moments after the U.S. Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade, Augustan Gary Garner was laughing and cheering.

"Is that great or what?" said Garner, an Alleluia Community member and longtime anti-abortion activist. "Thank you, Jesus! It means victory."

Meanwhile, Elle Garcia, 17, of Augusta, said she was at work when she heard the news, and she felt so repulsed that tears streamed down her face.

"This isn't the democracy I grew up learning about in elementary and middle school, and this certainly is not the America everyone around me had praised while I was growing up in the South," said Garcia, whom The Chronicle met May 21 at an Augusta reproductive rights rally. "I'm most scared for my sister and my future children."

Gary Garner leads a prayer for a group protesting abortion in October 2021 across the street from the Augusta Common.

The repeal was announced Friday morning, just after 10 a.m., revoking the 49-year-old precedent that allowed for legal abortions nationwide. .

Augusta Care Pregnancy Center director Susan Swanson said "It's wonderful news! I've worked 40 years for this day, 40 years of helping save babies and helping mothers."

But while many are celebrating this moment, for many others it's a very sad day.

Bishop Gregory Godsey, of St. Francis Parish and Outreach, drew a connection to the law that requires approval before organs are harvested from a deceased person's body in saying the Supreme Court has "elevated the rights of a corpse over the rights of a woman."

By the way:Supreme Court Roe v. Wade decision means Georgia's abortion law can take effect quickly

Also:5 things to know for Georgia after Roe v. Wade overturned

Previously: 'We will not go back': Abortion-rights activists rally at Augusta Common

Without Roe v. Wade's precedent, it clears the way for Georgia's heartbeat bill, which would prevent abortions once a fetus' heartbeat can be detected. The American Pediatric Association says a heartbeat may be detected as early as 5.5 to 6.5 weeks into gestation. The heartbeat bill also allows for abortions for a medical crisis, rape or incest.

Ahead of the Supreme Court decision, The Augusta Chronicle spoke with several anti-abortion individuals on these exceptions. Thoughts on the "medical crisis" portion were mixed. The rape/incest exception had more resistance, with many remarking on such events being horrible, but "not the fault of the child."

"The child should not be punished for being created," Augusta-area activist Judy Hartney said. "The child should not be hurt for being created."

George Vozniak, head of the Greater Augusta Chapter of Georgia Right to Life, said Roe v. Wade's repeal is "a step forward … for the lives of unborn children" but the heartbeat bill has exceptions and a window of time that allows abortions.

Vozniak and other anti-abortion activists have said the hope is to continue working in order to make abortion completely illegal, while reproductive rights activists are working to find other means for safeguarding abortions.

Traci George of The People's Agenda wrote Friday via text message, "We must demand our state-level elected officials protect reproductive rights for the generations of families to come. The time is NOW to show that a born life matters!"

Garcia said she feels helpless to have her rights taken away, and echoed George's thoughts because she can't vote yet and is relying on others to do so.