Protesters wave signs on Garrison Avenue supporting abortion rights

Protesters gathered on Garrison Avenue near the bridge in Fort Smith Monday evening and waved signs in support of abortion rights.

People honked car horns as they drove by about 30 people with signs that read, "If you don't like abortion don't get one. My body My choice!" "Babies made by love not law," " Bans off bodies" and others.

Kiera Taylor of Heavener, Oklahoma, Mekailan James and Jessica Martin, both of Poteau, Oklahoma, started to talk about why they waved signs. Honks from a truck driver and cheers drowned them out. 

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Lea Taylor of Heavener, said she heard about the protest on Facebook, and she drove with four friends to wave signs to eastbound motorists on U.S. 64/Garrison Avenue as they entered Fort Smith and Arkansas. Abortion is now illegal in Arkansas and has been illegal in Oklahoma this year.

She said she came to Fort Smith because of the overturning of Roe v. Wade by the Supreme Court.

"We believe this is a war on women," Lea Taylor said. "We've got our right to abortion. I'm just here tonight to have my rights. I'm here to get them back. I don't want someone to tell me what I can or can't do with my body or have the same reproductive organs."

Seth Wilson, 22, of Fort Smith, said he felt obligated to protest Monday. He stood along Garrison Avenue from 3 p.m. to about 9 p.m. with fellow protesters waving signs. There were plenty of people who passed by but did not pass up their own chance to shout words against them.

"If we don't stand out here and say something no one will stand up for it. A lot of people just let things slide past, but this is something we can't ignore.

Abortion rights protesters have rallied in Little Rock, Fayetteville and Fort Smith since the Friday overturn of the landmark 1973 Roe v. Wade decision.