Rally To Defend Abortion Rights Planned For Saturday In Tacoma

TACOMA, WA — While most of the country awaits the Supreme Court decision on whether or not to overturn Roe V. Wade, activists in Tacoma are not sitting on their hands— they're taking to the streets. Local organizers have announced a Reproductive Justice Rally set for this Saturday at noon in front of the U.S. District Courthouse.

The courthouse can be found at 1717 Pacific Avenue. The event will coincide with a number of similar rallies across the country, as part of a national day of action in defense of abortion access and reproductive justice.

The event is hosted by the Tacoma Democratic Socialists of America and Serve the People Tacoma, but the entire community is invited to come out and speak up for reproductive rights.

Washington state has codified abortion protections into law — and top state leaders have vowed to protect abortion access — so overturning Roe would likely not have an immediate impact on the Evergreen State. However, rally organizers say there's still work to be done.

“Even with Roe currently in place, many people do not have access to abortion and reproductive healthcare," a Tacoma DSA representative said in a news release. "The most marginalized people in society already know what it’s like to be denied reproductive freedom. We need to push back against all barriers that prevent people having full autonomy over their bodies and being able to choose to not have children, or have children and be able to raise them in a society that prioritizes the health, safety and dignity of all persons.”

The recent fervor over reproductive rights began earlier this month, when Politico leaked a draft majority opinion showing the U.S. Supreme Court was poised to overturn Roe V. Wade, the landmark abortion ruling which has legalized abortions for over five decades now. A final decision on that case is not expected until late June or early July.

In response to the news, Washington Gov. Jay Inslee held a pro-choice rally at Seattle's Kerry Park, promising to extend protections to those who travel to Washington seeking abortions, to enshrine abortion in the state constitution, and to expand resources to provide abortion services to more Washingtonians and to people who come to Washington state for help.

"This is our obligation, and we will fulfill it," Inslee said.

Several pro-choice rallies have been held in the weeks since in Seattle.