While many Americans enjoyed the Labor Day Holiday with cookouts or trips to the beach, a group of protesters in Manhattan’s Union Square called attention to what they view as the forced labor of childbirth imposed upon women in the U.S. who no longer have access to legal abortion.

It captured the attention of onlookers such as Catherine, who lives in Manhattan.

What You Need To Know

  • In June, the U.S. Supreme Court officially overruled the landmark 1973 Roe v. Wade decision that established abortion as a constitutional right for nearly half a century

  • Calls to legalize abortion have grown in recent months, particularly as more states make abortion illegal

  • Some states have enacted near-total bans on abortions while others have enforced severe restrictions

“I was really surprised when they wanted to make it illegal again because for so many years it was legal,” she said.

Monday’s rally comes more than two months after the Supreme Court officially overruled the landmark 1973 Roe v. Wade decision that established abortion as a constitutional right for nearly half a century until June of this year. 

Abortion advocates at the Rise Up 4 Abortion Rights rally — some wearing what were supposed to be blood-stained pants — called for the federal government to legalize abortion nationwide. 

“Thousands and thousands of women being forced to give birth against their will,” said Emma Kaplan, a volunteer with Rise Up 4 Abortion Rights. 

“And so we’re calling for abortion to be made legal throughout the nation,” she said.

Calls to legalize abortion have grown in recent months, particularly as more states make abortion illegal — be it through trigger laws designed to ban abortion after Roe. v. Wade was overturned — or through new legislation. Some states have enacted near-total bans on abortions while others have enforced severe restrictions. 

“To create nonviolent massive day-after-day demonstrations that could force the federal government to restore legal abortion nationwide,” said Travis Morales, an organizer with Rise up 4 Abortion Rights.

Catherine is a former medical assistant and used to assist with abortion procedures. But even she has struggled with the moral arguments raised around having abortions.

“I have to admit that I felt very sorry when I had to send these little tubes to the lab after he performed these abortions,” she said.

Ultimately, she believes woman should be able to make their decisions about their bodies.

“It’s these women’s bodies and I had no choice to impose my opinion on them. And besides, what a hypocrite I would be,” Catherine said.

The high court’s historic decision has become a rallying point for abortion supporters and opponents and is sure to be top of mind for a lot of voters in November’s midterm elections.