SCOTUS abortion decision sparks rally in front of U.S. Courthouse in Sioux Falls
Shelly Conlon
Roughly 100 people showed up to an impromptu abortion rally Friday afternoon in downtown Sioux Falls, hours after the Supreme Court of the United States overturned Roe v. Wade, causing a trigger law to make abortion illegal in South Dakota and other states immediately.
The rally, organized by representatives of the grassroots political movement Leaders Engaged And Determined, was "spur of the moment" in front of the U.S. Courthouse, said LEAD organizer Melissa McCauley.
More:How South Dakota abortion access could change if SCOTUS overrules Roe v. Wade
"It was quick," she said. "But the turnout, just having two hours notification, the kind of people showing up shows that there are people that are upset."
The event started at about 4 p.m., and the gathering dispersed by about 4:45 p.m. But it brought out Sioux Falls residents like Kaitlyn Lamont, 21, who said while she's normally shy, the moment was too important not to give voice to publicly.
"This means a lot to me," she said. "I have a lot of AFAB (assigned female at birth) friends, and nonbinary friends, and this just breaks my heart to see what could happen to them if something were to happen."
She took center stage at the rally, giving an impassioned speech about who the SCOTUS decision affected and the need to push back against the decision.
When the federal decision came down Friday morning, she was angry, she said.
"I was very angry, not necessarily in a physical way, but more just kind of in that internalized way, just almost kind of like that desolate hopelessness," Lamont said. "We can do something, we just have to keep fighting."
Representatives from three other groups showed up to the event as well, including South Dakota Voices for Peace, a nonprofit focused on healing in immigrant, refugee, and Muslim communities by amplifying their voices; the South Dakota campaign for Healthy Families, a nonprofit focused on reproductive freedoms; and the Justice Empowerment Network for South Dakota, which offers an abortion support fund for South Dakotans.
McCauley said LEAD plans to do more events pushing back on the SCOTUS decision at the state level, but no dates for future activities have been set yet.
The decision, though, affects everyone, she said.
More:Gov. Noem launches 'Life' website as resource for pregnancy, new parents after Roe v. Wade ruling
"The marches, everything like this, is amazing," she said. "It gets people out. It shows people that they are not alone, but what we need is, we need engagement. We need people to show up, to stand up and (to) be a voice for our neighbors and also run run for office."
South Dakota as a whole has been at the forefront of the anti-abortion argument since the early 2000s, and lawmakers are expected to attend a special session called Friday by Gov. Kristi Noem in reaction to the Supreme Court decision.
Many in the South Dakota GOP rejoiced Friday morning, during the state convention in Watertown, as the decision came down.
Linda Schauer, the state director of Concerned Women for America of South Dakota, was listening to news of court decisions while traveling from Leola, South Dakota to the convention. That's when she learned Roe had been overturned.
"We are overjoyed with this ruling," said Schauer, who is also the vice chair of the McPherson County Republican Party. "We've been waiting every day for the decision."
When that special session will happen and what will be debated in a state where abortion is now illegal though is still to be determined.
For more on the issue, read below: