Reproductive Rights March Draws Over 1,000 To Milwaukee's Downtown

MILWAUKEE, WI — Over 1,000 people marched through Milwaukee's downtown on Wednesday for reproductive rights after a report from Politico revealed the U.S. Supreme Court's intention to overturn Roe v. Wade, which protected abortions nationally.

A Wisconsin law, written in 1849, would make it a felony to provide abortions if Roe v. Wade is overturned. The only exception would be to save a mother's life, but there aren't exceptions for cases of rape or incest.

Protesters marched from Red Arrow Park on N. Water Street to Planned Parenthood on W. Wisconsin Avenue. On the way, they chanted slogans like "my body, my choice" as marshals blocked intersections. The Party for Socialism and Liberation organized the march.

Both in the park and at Planned Parenthood, speakers shared their experiences with Wisconsin's legal system and how it affected people who sought abortions. According to state law, a physician has to give a patient an ultrasound examination before they can terminate a pregnancy.

If abortions aren't protected nationally, people will continue to get abortions but not safely, a speaker named Sam said at the rally.

In an interview, Wisconsin Attorney General Josh Kaul said he wouldn't investigate or prosecute anyone for having an abortion if the Supreme Court rejects the ruling, the Associated Press reported.

The Justice Department would be focused on crimes of statewide importance, like homicide, sexual assault and arson, Kaul told the Associated Press. If Kaul takes the approach, district attorneys at the county level could still prosecute people for providing abortions.

In Madison, over 1,000 people marched on the Capitol to show support for abortion rights on Tuesday. Similar marches were held in Indiana, Florida and Kentucky on Wednesday, according to the party's Facebook pages.

Gov. Tony Evers sent a letter to the U.S. Senate to pass the Women's Health Protection Act, which would give national protections to abortion providers and recipients. Along with Evers, 16 other governors signed the letter.

Justice Samuel Alito's leaked draft opinion totally rejected the Roe v. Wade ruling, calling it "egregiously wrong from the start," Politico reported on Monday. This caused an outcry from Democratic representatives and reproductive rights advocates across the country.

If the 1973 ruling is overturned, 13 states with so-called trigger laws to penalize abortion would take place almost immediately, Time reported.

RELATED:

• SCOTUS Could Reject Roe V. Wade, But WI Democrats 'Won't Back Down'
• Roe v. Wade In WI: Gov. Evers Coalition Urges Senate, Congress To Act