After the news broke that the United States Supreme Court, in a leaked draft of a decision, is poised to overturn the landmark case Roe v. Wade, several community organizations came together to organize a rally in support of abortion rights in Riverhead on Saturday.
This regional event is part of a larger campaign called Bans Off Our Bodies, for which similar rallies will take place in New York City and across the nation. In Riverhead, it will begin at noon on the steps of the Suffolk County Supreme Court.
For nearly 50 years, Roe v. Wade has protected women's rights to access abortion. While that ruling still stands at present, many experts are saying the Supreme Court's conservative majority appears to have already made up its mind.
Rebecca Dolber, a co-founder of the East End Action Network, said in a recent interview that she was appalled to hear of the likely reversal of the Roe decision, but not surprised.
"I think abortion is central to the civil rights of women, and it's as simple as that," Ms. Dolber said. "Anyone paying attention, reading the tea leaves, if you will, knew this was just a matter of time."
Her group was joined in organizing Saturday's Riverhead rally by Progressive East End Reformers, Suffolk Progressives, and Indivisible North Fork.
"We're going to keep showing up and giving people other opportunities to show up," Ms. Dolber said. Speaking out is "important right now if you believe in a woman's right to choose, families' right to choose, if you believe in personal autonomy. Even if you're not a political person, we need you right now."
