Abortion-rights rallies draw crowds on LI, across U.S.

Thousands of New Yorkers, Long Islanders among them, marched Saturday to protest the potential reversal of the landmark federal law ensuring a woman's right to abortion.

With noise and numbers, people gathered at marches in Riverhead and New York City to send a communal message that women should make their own reproductive decisions, and they don't want any court, politician or religious group changing that.

They joined in a national day of solidarity among those who support abortion access, with marches occurring from Pittsburgh to Pasadena, California; and Nashville, Tennessee, to Lubbock, Texas. 

The mood was one of upset and defiance.

The "Bans Off Our Bodies" rallies followed a leaked draft opinion suggesting the Supreme Court is poised to overturn the 1973 Roe v. Wade decision, a move that could trigger a wave of state laws making abortion illegal. Rally sponsors included the Women’s March, Planned Parenthood, UltraViolet, MoveOn and other organizations.

Gathering in front of the Suffolk County Supreme Court building in Riverhead, rallygoers held signs reading “Keep your laws off my body,” “Abortion is health care,” and “Choice=Life.” They chanted slogans such as “We Won’t Go Back.” 

Lara Nodosy, a nurse and midwife, was among the hundreds on hand. She said abortion was “essential and preventive health care,” which could at times be lifesaving. The decision needed to be left to patients and their physicians, she said.

The crowd marched from Court Street down to Main Street, chanting slogans. Drivers honked their horns in support while onlookers clapped in encouragement.

Maxine Kleedorfer, 75, of Baiting Hollow, said striking down Roe v. Wade would not end abortion but only force women to seek more dangerous options.

“Abortions won’t stop. … It will just go back to hangers, throwing yourselves down staircases," Kleedorfer said. "It will be the death of women.”

John Krakowski, 67, of Flanders, said he wanted to go to a rally in New York City but felt it was important to be in Riverhead.

“Responsible Republicans, hard-core independents and Democrats have to change what is going on. We have to go back to our democracy,” Krakowski said.

Thousands gathered at Brooklyn's Cadman Plaza to march across the Brooklyn Bridge.

Christine Nicols, 33, said she felt the urgency of the moment, so much so that she came to the plaza despite a broken right leg. Getting around on a mobility scooter, the Queens woman recalled that she became pregnant while in an abusive relationship six years ago.

"I knew that if I brought that child into the world, I would never escape that abuser," said Nicols, adding that she had an abortion. "He wanted me to go through with the pregnancy, so he could continue to control me. I felt he robbed me of my autonomy. I don't want any politician doing that to me now."

Pat Horner, 76, of Woodstock, said the country's problem extends beyond the abortion issue to a Supreme Court packed with "zealots."

"They want to take away our rights. They start with pregnant women but it's just a matter of time before they go after gays, lesbians, Blacks and voting rights," Horner said.

Joy Lofstrand, 71, said she remembered the days before Roe v. Wade was established. She recalled a friend in her college dorm in Minneapolis who became pregnant.

"She had to get $1,000 together, which was a lot of money. She had to make it to New York or Mexico" for an abortion, said Lofstrand, of Woodstock, adding that the friend had an abortion and was OK.

People opposed to abortion have praised the prospect that the Supreme Court could overturn abortions rights.

In Cadman Plaza, a young man held high a sign saying "Abortion is Murder." Two people yelled at him, and one man grabbed away his sign and started running. The young man got his sign back, torn and tattered, and complained to police on the scene that "This is no way to hold a rally." He declined to comment.

Pastor Joni Lupis, president and director of March for Life New York, told Newsday that while she is hopeful that the U.S. Supreme Court would overturn Roe v. Wade, she realizes that more abortions would take place in New York State as a result. The state legalized abortions before Roe v. Wade.

Lupis said this means that anti-abortion groups “need to step up our game” with holding their own demonstration events. March for Life New York and associated anti-abortion groups will be holding a rally on June 4 in Hauppauge.

“All around, abortion is not good. Being a pastor, I speak to women all the time, and even men, and they really regret it,” Lupis said. “The baby they never knew becomes the baby they never forget.”

After the march across the Brooklyn Bridge, Aerlia MacLaird, 51, said her feet and back were aching, but she came away with some hope.

"It's good to see the turnout," said MacLaird, of Brooklyn. "It's good to see the younger people. Hopefully, with the proliferation of social media, a lot of people will see this."

With AP