Just like people around the country, folks in Chattanooga had varying opinions at the news that the United States Supreme Court struck down Roe v. Wade, which legalized abortion on a federal level.
The ruling means individual states will decide whether to keep abortion legal, or ban it.
In Tennessee, a 'trigger law' will take effect thirty days from the ruling. It would not exempt abortions in cases of rape, incest or mental health of the mother.
Chattanooga has not had an abortion clinic in 29 years. On its site today is the National Memorial to the Unborn.
But the abortion debate is still a hot topic in the Scenic City.
“I'm still coming to terms that the bodily autonomy of half this country is completely wiped out," Kim Osment, who supports abortion rights, told us after the ruling was announced. 'We are not able to make decisions on our body, it's disgusting.”
But others celebrated the decision.
“This is like D Day. Okay, it was a big day, but there's still ground to be taken,” Douglas Dougherty, who is opposed to abortion, told us.
Daughtery says the high court's decision is just the beginning.
“Lawsuits filed everywhere, people trying to stop it, or people trying to start it. And so it's gonna be a huge battle.”
Attorney Melody Shekari, who supports abortion rights, says the remaining 5 abortion clinics across Tennessee will soon be shut down, and that doctors who perform abortions could face serious legal consequences.
“Women are not necessarily going to be prosecuted at this point. And in my understanding, but doctors would they would make it a felony for a doctor to perform an abortion and the doctor has the burden of showing that it endanger the woman's health," she said.
Once Tennessee’s abortion ban goes into effect, physicians who perform abortions could face up to 15 years in prison $10,000 fine and the loss of their license.
Abortion rights activists plan to hold a rally at 6 p.m. Friday night at Coolidge Park. Depend on us to bring you updates on that story as we get them.