One more demonstration will be held this Monday in downtown Los Angeles.
Photo: APU GOMES / AFP / Getty Images
A third day of demonstrations took place in downtown Los Angeles on Sunday against the US Supreme Court’s decision to overturn federal abortion protections provided in Roe v. Wade.
The protest was led by the groups Feminist Front and Generation Ratify. The former is described on Twitter as “young people between the ages of 15 and 35 coming together to fight white supremacist patriarchy, at its roots.” Generation Ratify defines itself as “The youth-led movement to ratify the Equal Rights Amendment and advance gender justice in America.”
Two large demonstrations were held in Grand Park on Saturday, drawing at least a couple hundred people before noon, and another outside the federal courthouse on First Street that was attended by hundreds more. One more demonstration was held in front of the Federal Building in Westwood.
Similar demonstrations have been held across the country and in other Southern California communities, including Hollywood, West Hollywood, Long Beach, Fullerton, Irvine, and parts of Riverside and San Diego counties.
As in previous demonstrations in downtown Los Angeles, participants on Saturday carried homemade banners with messages that included “Ban guns, no abortions,” “Take care of your own womb” and “My body, my choice.”
Many said they just needed a place to be with like-minded people and vent their frustration and disappointment.
On Saturday some of the downtown protesters spilled onto nearby freeways, the Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) said.
On Friday, hundreds of protesters gathered in the city center hours after the Supreme Court announced its decision. The demonstrations were largely peaceful, but some scuffles with police officers were reported, prompting the department to declare an assembly illegal and issue a temporary citywide tactical alert to clear the streets.
Two people were arrested and four officers were injured during the Friday rally, LAPD officials said.
Michael Ortiz, 30, was arrested for attempted murder and Juliana Bernardo, 23, for resisting arrest by an officer.
Saturday’s protests were mostly peaceful and no other arrests were reported.
Another protest is expected for this Monday where the organizers of ‘Stand Up for Abortion’ ask to march at 2 pm, from wherever people are and meet at 3 pm, at the Federal Court building in Los Angeles. , located at 350 West 1st Street.
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