Protest after Supreme Court leaks expected Overturn of Abortion Rights Protections

In an unprecedented breach, a draft Supreme Court draft decision was leaked on May 2, 2022 indicating that the court intended to overturn the protection for abortions granted by Roe v. Wade. A major protest gathered the next day outside the Supreme Court in Washington, D.C. (Linus Hoeller)

Protesters chant in favor of abortion rights outside the Supreme Court of the United States. (Linus Hoeller)

An officer looks on as a growing crowd gathers outside the Supreme Court a day after the draft decision to overturn Roe v. Wade is leaked. (Linus Hoeller)

Protesters soon completely filled First Street NE in front of the Supreme Court. (Linus Hoeller)

National media was present in force, setting up live news casts on the grass separating the Supreme Court from the Capitol. (Linus Hoeller)

A woman holds up a coat hanger, a symbol of unsafe and makeshift clandestine abortions, which many protesters fear will become the norm as Republican states pass restrictive abortion laws. (Linus Hoeller)

With the U.S. Capitol in the background, protesters make their voices heard. (Linus Hoeller)

Democrats nationally have run on a pro-abortion access platform, but demonstrators said they were disappointed that so far, there had not been any substantial change to the status quo. (Linus Hoeller)

Dwarfed by the Supreme Court, abortion rights supporters chant in front of a few police officers and a handful of counterprotesters. (Linus Hoeller)

Protesters hold up signs on May 10, a day after the Supreme Court draft decision leaked. (Linus Hoeller)

An activist speaks at the impromptu rally outside the Supreme Court less than 24 hours after the leak. (Linus Hoeller)

Protesters outside the Supreme Court (Linus Hoeller)

Some previously fringe political groups have successfully used public discontent with the functioning of government to enhance sympathies for their cause. (Linus Hoeller)

Protesters stayed out until well in the evening. (Linus Hoeller)

Although there were some concerns that there might be clashes, only a handful of counterprotesters showed up outside the Supreme Court and soon departed, leaving the stage to pro-abortion rights protesters. (Linus Hoeller)

Criticism of the Republican party was particularly prone at the rally in light of a slew of recent laws passed in red states severely restricting and partly criminalizing abortions. (Linus Hoeller)

The Supreme Court, as expected, did not react to public comments on the draft leak but did say they were investigating who had leaked the opinion and that there would be internal consequences. (Linus Hoeller)

A passer-by in a suit joins the protest and listens to activist speakers outside the Supreme Court. (Linus Hoeller)