Thousands Protest Roe V. Wade Overturn, Face Counterprotesters

LOS ANGELES, CA — Thousands of Angelenos demonstrated at Los Angeles City Hall on Saturday to protest the U.S. Supreme Court's potential overturn of Roe v. Wade, and some came face to face with anti-abortion protesters in a tense two hour confrontation.

Protests erupted across the country on May 2 when Politico published a draft Supreme Court opinion suggesting Roe v. Wade, the 1973 ruling that made abortion legal in all 50 states, could be overturned.

Since then, Los Angeles has seen dozens of protests, with thousands of participants supporting the right to choose whether to have an abortion.

On Saturday, as the Women's March protest continued in the background, a few dozen protesters clashed with anti-abortion protesters for around two hours. The encounter was tense as protesters screamed back and forth, narrowly separated by a line of security.

The rally forged ahead despite the confrontation, which was contained to an outer corner of the massive event.

Many speakers addressed the potential Supreme Court decision and upcoming midterm elections, including actor Connie Britton; Mayor Eric Garcetti; Gov. Gavin Newsom's wife, Jennifer Siebel Newsom; mayoral candidate Karen Bass; and more. Gavin Newsom was not at the rally.

"They say the winds blow from the west to the east, so what can we do? First, we declare Los Angeles a sanctuary for reproductive rights and freedoms," Garcetti said. "You either believe in the equality of women, or you don't."

Britton encouraged the crowd to turn its anger into organized action.

"This is a very personal march for all of us, and we all have our specific reasons for being here. I bet we all share one thing in common, and that is that we are enraged. ... I'm mad at the people that aren't here this morning. I'm mad at my friends who stayed home to do Pilates," Britton said.

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Along with many other local officials, Gavin Newsom has expressed support for upholding Roe v. Wade and a person's right to choose. Gavin Newsom on Wednesday announced proposed expansion to reproductive services in California.

His proposed Reproductive Health Package would include educational services, funding for uninsured people seeking abortion services, grants for community-based organizations and support for California's health care system anticipating increased demand.

"They know banning and criminalizing abortion will disproportionately harm women of color and those without the financial means to travel for an abortion. They know banning abortion will be devastating to women's economic prospects. And they know banning abortion will hinder women's ability to be equally represented at the tables of power," Jennifer Siebel Newsom said Saturday.

Down the street, protesters marched in support of reproductive rights with Rise Up 4 Abortion rights, an organization that has spearheaded protests across the country in support of the Roe v. Wade.

Protests erupted across the Los Angeles area over the weekend, including rallies in Sherman Oaks, Pasadena, Redondo Beach and more.