Demonstrators in Pensacola rally as Supreme Court leak shows abortion rights in danger

A leaked draft of a U.S. Supreme Court opinion indicates Roe v. Wade could be overturned, potentially clearing the path for states to make abortion illegal.

The news sparked protests across the country, and in Pensacola dozens of demonstrators at gathered in front of the Winston E. Arnow Federal Building and decried the decision as a dangerous step backward for the country and for human rights.

"We are, of course, against the possibility of Roe v. Wade being overturned," said Rosa Gibson, an organizer with the Party for Socialism and Liberation. "We believe abortion is a fundamental human right."

More: What happens if Roe v. Wade is overturned? What we know about Supreme Court's leaked draft

More: If Roe v. Wade is overturned, here's how abortion laws in each state will stand

The 1973 decision of Roe v. Wade constitutionally established the right to abortion.

"Roe was egregiously wrong from the start," Associate Justice Samuel Alito wrote in the leaked draft obtained by Politico. "We hold that Roe and Casey must be overruled."

While the Supreme Court on Tuesday verified the leaked opinion was authentic, it pushed back on the notion that it was the court's final decision.

However, legal experts say the reasoning in this draft decision could lead the Supreme Court to overturn other civil rights protections, including gay marriage, and let states decide.

At the Pensacola demonstration, Jasmine Brown noted, "This sets a terrible precedent for other court decisions that can take us back in time."

A group of people lined the sidewalks along Palafox and Gregory streets with signs with messages like "We won't go back, we will fight back!" and "Legalize abortion once and for all."

Many demonstrators argued that criminalizing abortions would put people in a position where they are forced to have unsafe abortions.

If the Supreme Court overturns Roe v. Wade, states would be free to make abortion illegal. Nearly half of U.S. states already have laws in place that would take effect immediately upon a Supreme Court ruling.

In mid-April, Gov. Ron DeSantis signed a law banning abortions past the 15-week mark, shortening the current window available to legally terminate a pregnancy by more than two months. The new Florida law will take effect July 1.

Jamie Ross, a demonstrator at the downtown Pensacola rally, characterized efforts to limit and ban efforts as hypocritical, arguing that many of the same people who argued against heavy-handed government oversight and regulation were fine with telling women what they could and could not do with their bodies.

"As so as you let the government dictate what you're doing, you no longer have freedom," Ross said.

Behind her, a speaker on a megaphone led the crowd of demonstrators in a chant of "My body, my choice."

From Florida's Capitol: Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis signs Mississippi-style abortion ban into law

Micah Parker, waving at passing cars and snapping photos of the demonstration, said the demonstrators were trying to protect human rights, ensure access to health care and raise awareness of the seriousness of the issue.

"We're trying to show people we're here," Parker said. "Maybe a car passing by that doesn't think about this, will think about this."

She said hopefully, demonstrations such as the one in Pensacola could help convince the Supreme Court to reverse course.

"It's better than doing nothing," Parker said.

Contributing: Trevor Hughes and Christine Fernando, USA TODAY; and James Call, Tallahassee Democrat

This article originally appeared on Pensacola News Journal: Pensacola sees protests over leaked Supreme Court Roe v. Wade opinion