'We will not go back': Abortion-rights activists rally at Augusta Common

"I don't want to be here," said one of the speakers at the reproductive rights protest on Saturday, May 21. "I'm here because I have a story to tell that I think is important for everybody to hear."

She proceeded to talk about how she became pregnant in 2012, and it was all going according to plan, until she began to feel harsh, chronic pains. It was determined the pains were body memories from when she had been sex trafficked as a child.

Hollie Fleischman holds a sign during the Reproductive Rights Protesting, Augusta rally Saturday, May 21, 2022, in Augusta, Ga.
Hollie Fleischman holds a sign during the Reproductive Rights Protesting, Augusta rally Saturday, May 21, 2022, in Augusta, Ga.

"My question, for those opposing the right to safe abortions is 'Will you look me in the eye and tell me I have to continue on a pregnancy that is triggering me into reliving being raped over and over and over again?'" she asked.

Her husband, who was standing in the crowd, said to hear her tell her story publicly, for the first time, "I almost cried. It was amazing."

Sharing stories and messages like these were the focus of the protest at the Augusta Common, which was in response to the leaked Supreme Court opinion draft from early May that suggests a possible overturn of the 1973 Roe v. Wade case that legalized abortions nationwide.

Live updates: Fallout swells over leaked Supreme Court draft threatening Roe v. Wade

"I started this two weeks ago, the day that the Roe opinion leaked, because I was sobbing," said organizer Beth Gray, "thinking about what would happen in the future, not only to me but to every one of you and everyone else in this country."

People gather for the Reproductive Rights Protesting, Augusta rally at the Augusta Common on Saturday, May 21, 2022.
People gather for the Reproductive Rights Protesting, Augusta rally at the Augusta Common on Saturday, May 21, 2022.

Gray assembled the protest with the help of the Facebook page she created after the leak. The private page, called "Reproductive Rights Protesting, Augusta," had collected more than 1,000 members, as of Saturday.

That brought over 120 activists out to the protest, many of whom were wearing T-shirts and holding signs that had messages like "Stop Regulating My Future" and "Someone You Love May Need A Choice."

It was a very diverse group; with some of the participants being professionals in this field, like sex educator Jennifer Runamok. She cited that a United Nations group found, in 2017, that countries where women have abortion rights as well as information about and methods of contraception have the lowest abortion rates.

A speaker shares sexual education information during the Reproductive Rights Protesting, Augusta rally at the Augusta Common on Saturday, May 21, 2022.
A speaker shares sexual education information during the Reproductive Rights Protesting, Augusta rally at the Augusta Common on Saturday, May 21, 2022.

"If we are striving for a world where every child is wanted and cared for and protected equally under the law, there are better ways to accomplish this than outlawing abortion," she said.

Other attendees were young newcomers, like Elle Garcia, 17, who recalled how, in middle school, she and other girls were pulled out of class to take part in a session wherein she was given "abstinence cards," which they were required to sign.

"I was 13 years old signing away my virginity," Garcia said. "In that moment, my future was decided for me."

Unwelcome activists read from the Bible during the Reproductive Rights Protesting, Augusta rally in the Augusta Commons on Saturday, May 21, 2022.
Unwelcome activists read from the Bible during the Reproductive Rights Protesting, Augusta rally in the Augusta Commons on Saturday, May 21, 2022.

The protest was peaceful, but there was a moment near the end where three men in black and gold robes approached the gathering, stood face-to-face with a few of the activists, pulled out a Bible and started reading verses from the Book of Revelation. The specific verses were unclear as they were quickly drowned out by the repeated shouts of "My Body, My Choice!"

The men left after a minute. They identified only as "The Israelites" and said they did not come with ill intent, but simply to spread the word of God. They did not offer further comment. Their name and uniforms indicate they are members of the Black Hebrew Israelites, a religious movement with sects across the globe. According to the Anti-Defamation League, the chapters have various ideologies, with some being peaceful while others have expressed harmful rhetoric, including anti-abortion sentiments.

Many anti-abortion activists have used religion as a weapon, making faith a sensitive subject when it comes to these conversations. Several of Saturday's protesters had signs with messages like "Your Beliefs Don't Define My Rights" and "Keep Your Rosaries Off My Ovaries."

Bishop Gregory Godsey of the Diocese of St. Maximilian Kolbe, who was in attendance, expressed apologies to all women who have used faith as "a right to discriminate against others, to refuse them vital medical care; because there's nothing in scripture that says that if you provide medical care to a person, and you provide something you believe is contrary to your religious beliefs, that it's going to damage your salvation in any way."

Amy Crawford holds signs during the Reproductive Rights Protesting, Augusta rally at the Augusta Common on Saturday, May 21, 2022.
Amy Crawford holds signs during the Reproductive Rights Protesting, Augusta rally at the Augusta Common on Saturday, May 21, 2022.

Unitarian Universalist Church of Augusta Pastor Nic Filzen also expressed remorse for how religious beliefs are used in this way, and said to the crowd, "Please know, there are faith traditions that are in this fight with you … you are not alone."

Many of the protesters left with happy faces just before the rain started coming in at about 4 p.m. Gray said she was thrilled by the turnout for the rally and is interested in organizing more in the future.

What is Roe v. Wade effect on abortion laws?

A sign is held over the crowd during the Reproductive Rights Protesting, Augusta rally at the Augusta Common on Saturday, May 21, 2022.
A sign is held over the crowd during the Reproductive Rights Protesting, Augusta rally at the Augusta Common on Saturday, May 21, 2022.

In the 1973 case, the Supreme Court found that laws criminalizing abortions violated the U.S. Constitution's 14th Amendment, which, in simple terms, ensures equal protections for all Americans. This set a nationwide precedent, though the 1991 Supreme Court case of Planned Parenthood v. Casey gave states the right to impose limited restrictions.

If Roe v. Wade is overturned, states will be free to make abortion completely illegal. This is why President Biden and Democrats are working to codify abortion rights. On May 11, legislation to do that failed 49-51.

What are Georgia's abortion laws?

[From left] Vanessa Grove, Faith Powell, and Sarah Murrah hold signs during the Reproductive Rights Protesting, Augusta rally Saturday, May 21, 2022, at the Augusta Common.
[From left] Vanessa Grove, Faith Powell, and Sarah Murrah hold signs during the Reproductive Rights Protesting, Augusta rally Saturday, May 21, 2022, at the Augusta Common.

Georgia limits abortions after 20 weeks post fertilization, according to the state chapter of Planned Parenthood. However, if Roe v. Wade is repealed, the state's controversial heartbeat bill will go into effect, which would prevent abortions once a fetus' heartbeat can be detected. The American Pediatric Association says a heartbeat may be detected as early as 5.5 to 6.5 weeks into gestation. There are a few exceptions to the law, like if a physician determines there is a medical emergency or that the pregnancy is medically futile. Abortion may also be allowed in the event of rape or incest if a police report has been filed and the probable gestational age of the unborn child is 20 weeks or less.

According to the Guttmacher Institute, a reproductive rights research and policy organization, eight other states have passed restrictions that are blocked in court but would go into effect if the repeal happens. It would also result in 13 states enforcing total or near-total bans on abortion, and seven more restricting it to the "maximum extent permitted."

This article originally appeared on Augusta Chronicle: Activists speak for reproductive, abortion rights at Augusta rally