Vancouver abortion rights rally held in wake of Roe v. Wade decision

Protestors gathered at the Supreme Court in Vancouver Sunday and marched to the U.S. consulate after the overturning of Roe v. Wade. Angela Bower speaks to abortion rights supporters about how this decision will affect Canadians.

By Angela Bower

Posted June 27, 2022 2:15 pm.

Last Updated June 27, 2022 2:30 pm.

Concerned British Columbians gathered at the Supreme Court in downtown Vancouver Sunday in the wake of the decision to overturn Roe v. Wade last week in the U.S.

Many of the demonstrators held up signs defending Americans’ right to choose and to have full control of their bodies.

“I am feeling pretty outraged but also glad to be with other people who are feeling the same way,” said one protester.

Another demonstrator who was visiting Vancouver from the U.S. outlined concern for the future of her country.

“It’s surreal, I mean this is going to be the solution for a lot of women who need abortions, who will die if they don’t get abortions and it’s really heartbreaking to know that this is the only option for some of them. But this makes it so much more important to have allies in the north,” Gigi told CityNews.

“I think a lot of people know in their hearts that this is wrong and they should not be silent because their voices are the ones that are going to lift us out of this,” she added.

On Friday, the U.S. Supreme Court overturned the 1973 Roe v. Wade ruling which recognized the right to abortion in America. The move means individual states are now able to make their own laws around the procedure, with many already banning the practice.

“We are talking about a fundamental right that people have relied on for 50 years,” explained Joyce Arthur, the executive director of the Abortion Rights Coalition of Canada.

“It’s just unbelievable that this could be gone. It’s actually unprecedented for the Supreme Court to remove a right. Generally the progression is toward protecting more and more rights, so what we have here is a Supreme Court that’s out of control for imposing a very conservative-extremist, conservative-religious viewpoint on all of America. It’s devastating and millions of people have had their rights taken away.”

The protest in Vancouver was one of many taking place across the country. In the U.S., Friday’s ruling sparked demonstrations across America, while also drawing celebrations from those who are anti-abortion.

MLA Melanie Mark was among the protesters who gathered in downtown Vancouver Sunday.

“We have got to remind everyone that our rights are fragile unless we stand up for them,” she said, stressing the importance of full autonomy.

“This is a call to action, this is unfortunately a movement that we’ve got to restart. How does it feel? It feels sad. There’s anger, there’s fear,” Mark added.

Speakers at the demonstration also noted how the U.S. ruling can affect Canadians, saying concerns are closer than one might think.

“Abortion providers in the Okanagan won’t tell their partners, their colleagues that they are providing abortions — and they’re gynecologists,” Michelle Fortin, executive director at Options for Sexual Health, told the group that gathered downtown.

“They’re terrified to let their colleagues know that they’re doing a procedure that is health care. That’s happening in this province. So when we get angry about what’s happening south of the border, please keep in mind that there are a lot of people whose rights are trampled on every day in this province as well and in this country.”