Following the decision from the Supreme Court to overturn Roe v. Wade, protesters took to the streets of LA to voice their opinions. Lauren Coronado reports for the NBC4 News at 11 p.m. on June 25, 2022.
One day after the Supreme Court ended constitutional protections for abortion that have been in place for nearly 50 years, demonstrators are set to continue a series of protests through Downtown Los Angeles to voice fear, grief and outrage at the decision.
The "We Won't Go Back" protest started at 10 a.m. Saturday in Grand Park, hosted by a coalition of local activists, and drew around 200 people.
Another protest was planned for 1 p.m. outside the federal courthouse on First Street.
Protestors from that rally took to the streets once again, making their way onto the streets in front of City Hall and blocking traffic on Spring Street from Temple Street.
Pedestrian demonstrators have now entered the 101 freeway off-ramp from Broadway Avenue. Avoid the area and use alternate routes if possible. Continue to monitor for updates.
By 3:45, the protestors made their way onto the 101 Freeway for a second day in a row, via the off-ramp from Broadway Avenue, according to the Los Angeles Police Department.
Drivers were advised to "avoid the area and use alternate routes if possible," the LAPD said on Twitter.
The ruling from the highest court in the United States puts the ability to regulate abortion access back into the hands of state legislatures.
Roughly half of U.S. states are expected to ban abortion as a result, leaving approximately 33.6 million women without access to safe abortions.
Abortion is still legal in California, where legislators have spent months reinforcing the state's already expansive abortion protections and reproductive rights.
A proposed amendment to the California Constitution would explicitly ban the state from denying or interfering with abortions or contraceptives. That measure cleared two legislative committees in a single day last week.
California is vowing to be an abortion sanctuary and so are many companies across the nation. Hetty Chang reports for the NBC4 News at 11 p.m. on June 24, 2022.
Governors in California, Washington and Oregon also issued a Multi-State Commitment to Reproductive Freedom on Friday, vowing to protect reproductive rights and help the women traveling to the West Coast seeking abortions.
They also vowed to protect against judicial and local law enforcement collaboration with out-of-state investigations, inquiries and arrests regarding abortions performed in their states.
"The impact on woman in California is negligible because California protects reproductive rights through its constitution and through statutes," said Cary Franklin, UCLA faculty director of the Center on Reproductive Health, Law and Policy. "Abortions will proceed in California. California women are fully protected."
"That is not true in every state."
Protestors took to the streets all over the country on Friday, from the steps of the Supreme Court to downtown Los Angeles, holding signs and banners to show their opinion on the ruling.
AP Photo/Jose Luis Magana
Anti-abortion protesters celebrate the Supreme Court ruling overturning Roe v. Wade in Washington, Friday, June 24, 2022.
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Pro-abortion rights protesters react as the Dobbs v Jackson Womens Health Organization decision overturning Roe v Wade is handed down at the U.S. Supreme Court on Friday, June 24, 2022.
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Anti-abortion demonstrators outside the US Supreme Court in Washington, D.C., US, on Friday, June 24, 2022. A deeply divided Supreme Court overturned the 1973 Roe v. Wade decision and wiped out the constitutional right to abortion, issuing a historic ruling likely to render the procedure largely illegal in half the country.
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An aerial view of people gathered at Washington Square Park to protest against the Supreme Court’s decision in the Dobbs v Jackson Women’s Health case on June 24, 2022 in the Manhattan borough of New York City, United States.
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Anti-abortion demonstrators outside the US Supreme Court in Washington, D.C., US, on Friday, June 24, 2022.
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Pro-abortion demonstrators gather outside the US Supreme Court in Washington, DC, on June 24, 2022.
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Abortion-rights activists gather for a protest following the Supreme Court’s decision to overturn Roe v. Wade at Union Square, Friday, June 24, 2022, in New York.
AP Photo/Paul Beaty
(From left to right) Grace Miller (11), Luke Miller (13), Leo Miller (5) and Faith Miller (15) hold signs at an anti-abortion rally at Federal Plaza Friday, June 24, 2022, in Chicago, after the Supreme Court overturned Roe vs Wade.
AP Photo/Rick Bowmer
People protest for abortion-rights at the Utah State Capitol Friday, June 24, 2022, in Salt Lake City.
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Abortion rights demonstrator reacts outside the US Supreme Court in Washington, D.C., US, on Friday, June 24, 2022.
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A demonstrator holds a sign outside the Arkansas state Capitol in Little Rock, Ark. on Friday, June 24, 2022 protesting the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision overturning Roe v. Wade.
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Anti-abortion supporters hug outside the US Supreme Court in Washington, DC, on June 24, 2022. The US Supreme Court on Friday ended the right to abortion in a seismic ruling that shreds half a century of constitutional protections on one of the most divisive and bitterly fought issues in American political life.
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Pro-abortion supporters react outside the US Supreme Court in Washington, DC, on June 24, 2022.
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Polama Amayo-Ryan stands as a lone demonstrator at the steps to the state capitol in Austin, Texas, Friday, June 24, 2022.
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Anti-abortion rights and abortion rights demonstrators hold signs outside the US Supreme Court in Washington, D.C., US, on Friday, June 24, 2022.
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An abortion-rights protester sheds tears following Supreme Court’s decision to overturn Roe v. Wade, the federally protected right to abortion, in Washington, Friday, June 24, 2022.
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Members of Florida Planned Parenthood PAC Abortion rights activists protest in Miami, Florida, on June 24, 2022.
AP Photo/Paul Beaty
Executive director of Illinois Right To Life Amy Gehrke speaks during an anti-abortion rally at Federal Plaza Friday, June 24, 2022, in Chicago.
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Anti-abortion campaigners celebrate outside the US Supreme Court in Washington, DC, on June 24, 2022.
AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin
Demonstrators protest about abortion outside the Supreme Court in Washington, Friday, June 24, 2022.
AP Photo/Paul Sancya
Abortion-rights protesters cheer at a rally following the United States Supreme Court’s decision to overturn Roe v. Wade, federally protected right to abortion, outside the state capitol in Lansing, Mich., Friday, June 24, 2022.
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Abortion rights demonstrators during a protest in New York, US, on Friday, June 24, 2022.
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People march together to protest the Supreme Court’s decision in the Dobbs v Jackson Women’s Health case on June 24, 2022 in Miami, Florida.
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Abortion rights demonstrators march through the streets to protest the Supreme Court’s decision in the Dobbs v Jackson Women’s Health case on June 24, 2022 in Detroit, Michigan.
AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar
A crowd protesting the overturning of Roe V. Wade by the Supreme Court holds a rally outside the City-County Building in downtown Pittsburgh, Friday, June 24, 2022.
AP Photo/Eric Gay
Demonstrators gather at the federal courthouse following the Supreme Court’s decision to overturn Roe v. Wade, Friday, June 24, 2022, in Austin, Texas.
AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin
An abortion-rights activist wears tape reading “second class citizen” on their mouth as they protest outside the Supreme Court in Washington, Friday, June 24, 2022.
AP Photo/Steve Helber
A celebration outside the Supreme Court, Friday, June 24, 2022, in Washington.
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Rise4AbortionLA members protest the overturn of Roe v. Wade outside of the Federal Courthouse in Los Angeles Friday, June 24, 2022.
AP Photo/Jose Luis Magana
Abortion rights activists gather outside the Supreme Court in Washington, Friday, June 24, 2022.
AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin
People celebrate outside the Supreme Court, Friday, June 24, 2022, in Washington.
AP Photo/Rick Bowmer
Raquel Juarez protests for abortion-rights at the Utah State Capitol Friday, June 24, 2022, in Salt Lake City.
AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin
Anti-abortion activists Maggie Donica, 21, right, and Grace Rykaczewski, 21, left, pray following the Supreme Court’s decision to overturn Roe v. Wade, federally protected right to abortion, in Washington, Friday, June 24, 2022.
During the demonstrations, some anti-abortion rights activists took time to celebrate the ruling.
At one point, the crowd of thousands in LA marched onto the northbound 110 Freeway, temporarily affecting traffic.
Some protestors lit up fireworks as hundreds of people rallied in Downtown LA on Friday, prompting police to declare an unlawful assembly. Other demonstrators marched on the 110 Freeway. Annette Arreola reports for Today in LA on Saturday, June 25, 2022.
Later on Friday night, after 9 p.m., another crowd of protestors gathered. Someone there launched a firework into the crowd, causing alarm and prompting police to declare an unlawful assembly.
Around 10:20 p.m. Friday, the LA Mayor's Office tweeted a photo of Los Angeles City Hall lit up with pink lights.
