Photos: Denver abortion rights supporters rally, outraged by a leaked Supreme Court draft ruling to overturn Roe vs. Wade

Abortion-rights supporters gathered at the Capitol and marched through Denver on Tuesday, after a leaked draft opinion suggested the Supreme Court would overturn Roe v. Wade.

Katherine Craig, center, cheers as cars honk during a rally at the Colorado State Capitol in Denver on Tuesday, May 3, 2022, a day after a U.S. Supreme Court draft opinion overturning Roe v. Wade, which in 1973 guaranteed legal access to abortion in the country, was leaked. “It’s just abhorrent, what’s going on right now,” said Craig, a doctoral student of sociology at CU Boulder currently studying maternal health, fetal growth and birth rates. “Why are we regressing when we should be going forward?”

Katherine Craig, center, cheers as cars honk during a rally at the Colorado State Capitol in Denver on Tuesday, May 3, 2022, a day after a U.S. Supreme Court draft opinion overturning Roe v. Wade, which in 1973 guaranteed legal access to abortion in the country, was leaked. “It’s just abhorrent, what’s going on right now,” said Craig, a doctoral student of sociology at CU Boulder currently studying maternal health, fetal growth and birth rates. “Why are we regressing when we should be going forward?”

Eli Imadali

Throngs of abortion rights supporters gathered on the west side of the Capitol and marched through Denver on Tuesday, a day after a leaked draft opinion suggested the Supreme Court would overturn its 1973 Roe v. Wade decision that declared access to an abortion a constitutional right across the United States half a century ago.

Even if the court were to overturn the 50-year-old legal precedent, Colorado’s Reproductive Health Equity Act was signed by Gov. Jared Polis on April 4, enshrining the right to an abortion into Colorado law. That means the high court’s ruling would not affect access to an abortion in the state.

Here’s some of what photojournalist Eli Imadali saw at the rally:

Camila Melo is dressed as a woman from the novel and show “The Handmaid's Tale” during a rally at the Colorado State Capitol in Denver on Tuesday, May 3, 2022, a day after a U.S. Supreme Court draft opinion overturning Roe v. Wade, which in 1973 guaranteed legal access to abortion in the country, was leaked.

Camila Melo is dressed as a woman from the novel and show “The Handmaid's Tale” during a rally at the Colorado State Capitol in Denver on Tuesday, May 3, 2022, a day after a U.S. Supreme Court draft opinion overturning Roe v. Wade, which in 1973 guaranteed legal access to abortion in the country, was leaked.

(Eli Imadali/For Denverite)
Rev. Eric Banner of the Jefferson Unitarian Church holds a sign up during a rally at the Colorado State Capitol in Denver on Tuesday, May 3, 2022, a day after a U.S. Supreme Court draft opinion overturning Roe v. Wade, which in 1973 guaranteed legal access to abortion in the country, was leaked. “I’m here for my wife. I’m here for my three daughters. I’m here for the women in the church that I serve. I’m here because of the work that my mother has been putting in for 70 plus years to make sure that abortion is recognized as healthcare, because that’s what it is. Abortion is healthcare,” said Banner, choking up.

Rev. Eric Banner of the Jefferson Unitarian Church holds a sign up during a rally at the Colorado State Capitol in Denver on Tuesday, May 3, 2022, a day after a U.S. Supreme Court draft opinion overturning Roe v. Wade, which in 1973 guaranteed legal access to abortion in the country, was leaked. “I’m here for my wife. I’m here for my three daughters. I’m here for the women in the church that I serve. I’m here because of the work that my mother has been putting in for 70 plus years to make sure that abortion is recognized as healthcare, because that’s what it is. Abortion is healthcare,” said Banner, choking up.

(Eli Imadali/For Denverite)
Abortion rights supporters use umbrellas to try and block anti-abortion counter protesters gathered near the state Capitol steps in Denver on Tuesday after a leaked draft opinion from the U.S. Supreme Court called for overturning Roe vs. Wade.

Abortion rights supporters use umbrellas to try and block anti-abortion counter protesters gathered near the state Capitol steps in Denver on Tuesday after a leaked draft opinion from the U.S. Supreme Court called for overturning Roe vs. Wade.

(Hart Van Denburg/CPR News)
State Sen. Julie Gonzales, standing with several other lawmakers involved in passing a recent bill codifying abortion into state law, speaks to a crowd of more than a thousand during a rally at the Colorado State Capitol in Denver on Tuesday, May 3, 2022. On Monday, a U.S. Supreme Court draft opinion overturning Roe v. Wade, which in 1973 guaranteed legal access to abortion in the country, was leaked.

State Sen. Julia Gonzalez, standing with several other female lawmakers involved in passing a recent bill codifying abortion into state law, speaks to a crowd of more than a thousand during a rally at the Colorado State Capitol in Denver on Tuesday, May 3, 2022. Yesterday, a U.S. Supreme Court draft opinion overturning Roe v. Wade, which in 1973 guaranteed legal access to abortion in the country, was leaked.

(Eli Imadali/For Denverite)
Mar Perez listens to a speaker and holds her one-year-old daughter, Sara Sorensen, during a rally at the Colorado State Capitol in Denver on Tuesday, May 3, 2022, a day after a U.S. Supreme Court draft opinion overturning Roe v. Wade, which in 1973 guaranteed legal access to abortion in the country, was leaked.

Mar Perez listens to a speaker and holds her one-year-old daughter, Sara Sorensen, during a rally at the Colorado State Capitol in Denver on Tuesday, May 3, 2022, a day after a U.S. Supreme Court draft opinion overturning Roe v. Wade, which in 1973 guaranteed legal access to abortion in the country, was leaked.

(Eli Imadali/For Denverite)
Kristin Rust shows her shoes, embroidered with “feminist” during a rally at the Colorado State Capitol in Denver on Tuesday, May 3, 2022, a day after a U.S. Supreme Court draft opinion overturning Roe v. Wade, which in 1973 guaranteed legal access to abortion in the country, was leaked.

Kristin Rust shows her shoes, embroidered with “feminist” during a rally at the Colorado State Capitol in Denver on Tuesday, May 3, 2022, a day after a U.S. Supreme Court draft opinion overturning Roe v. Wade, which in 1973 guaranteed legal access to abortion in the country, was leaked.

(Eli Imadali/For Denverite)
Jess Haag, with “choice” painted on her face, cheers during a rally at the Colorado State Capitol in Denver on Tuesday, May 3, 2022, a day after a U.S. Supreme Court draft opinion overturning Roe v. Wade, which in 1973 guaranteed legal access to abortion in the country, was leaked.

Jess Haag, with “choice” painted on her face, cheers during a rally at the Colorado State Capitol in Denver on Tuesday, May 3, 2022, a day after a U.S. Supreme Court draft opinion overturning Roe v. Wade, which in 1973 guaranteed legal access to abortion in the country, was leaked.

(Eli Imadali/For Denverite)
Planned Parenthood of the Rocky Mountains President Adrienne Mansanares speaks to abortion rights supporters gathered on the state Capitol steps in Denver on Tuesday after a leaked draft opinion from the U.S. Supreme Court called for overturning Roe vs. Wade.

Planned Parenthood of the Rocky Mountains President Adrienne Mansanares speaks to abortion rights supporters gathered on the state Capitol steps in Denver on Tuesday after a leaked draft opinion from the U.S. Supreme Court called for overturning Roe vs. Wade.

Hart Van Denburg/CPR News
A crowd of more than a thousand listen as State Sen. Julia Gonzalez, standing with several other lawmakers involved in passing a recent bill codifying abortion into state law, gathers herself during a rally at the Colorado State Capitol in Denver on Tuesday, May 3, 2022. Yesterday, a U.S. Supreme Court draft opinion overturning Roe v. Wade, which in 1973 guaranteed legal access to abortion in the country, was leaked.

A crowd of more than a thousand listen as State Sen. Julia Gonzalez, standing with several other women involved in passing a recent bill codifying abortion into state law, gathers herself during a rally at the Colorado State Capitol in Denver on Tuesday, May 3, 2022. Yesterday, a U.S. Supreme Court draft opinion overturning Roe v. Wade, which in 1973 guaranteed legal access to abortion in the country, was leaked.

(Eli Imadali/For Denverite)
More than a thousand protesters march down Colfax Avenue in Denver on Tuesday, May 3, 2022, a day after a U.S. Supreme Court draft opinion overturning Roe v. Wade, which in 1973 guaranteed legal access to abortion in the country, was leaked.

More than a thousand protesters march down Colfax Avenue in Denver on Tuesday, May 3, 2022, a day after a U.S. Supreme Court draft opinion overturning Roe v. Wade, which in 1973 guaranteed legal access to abortion in the country, was leaked.

(Eli Imadali/For Denverite)
Jenifer Hammond of Vail holds coat hangers up with her sign during a rally at the Colorado State Capitol in Denver on Tuesday, May 3, 2022, a day after a U.S. Supreme Court draft opinion overturning Roe v. Wade, which in 1973 guaranteed legal access to abortion in the country, was leaked.

Jenifer Hammond of Vail holds coat hangers up with her sign during a rally at the Colorado State Capitol in Denver on Tuesday, May 3, 2022, a day after a U.S. Supreme Court draft opinion overturning Roe v. Wade, which in 1973 guaranteed legal access to abortion in the country, was leaked.

(Eli Imadali/For Denverite)
More than a thousand protesters march down the 16th Street Mall in Denver on Tuesday, May 3, 2022, a day after a U.S. Supreme Court draft opinion overturning Roe v. Wade, which in 1973 guaranteed legal access to abortion in the country, was leaked.

More than a thousand protesters march down the 16th Street Mall in Denver on Tuesday, May 3, 2022, a day after a U.S. Supreme Court draft opinion overturning Roe v. Wade, which in 1973 guaranteed legal access to abortion in the country, was leaked.

(Eli Imadali/For Denverite)
Dana Miller picks her sign up during a rally at the Colorado State Capitol in Denver on Tuesday, May 3, 2022, a day after a U.S. Supreme Court draft opinion overturning Roe v. Wade, which in 1973 guaranteed legal access to abortion in the country, was leaked.

Dana Miller picks her sign up during a rally at the Colorado State Capitol in Denver on Tuesday, May 3, 2022, a day after a U.S. Supreme Court draft opinion overturning Roe v. Wade, which in 1973 guaranteed legal access to abortion in the country, was leaked.

(Eli Imadali/For Denverite)

 

Weird times

Denverite is powered by you. In these weird times, the local vigilance, the local context, the local flavor — it’s powered through your donations. If you’d miss Denverite if it disappeared tomorrow, donate today.

You’re our superpower

Denverite supporters have made the decision to financially support local journalism that matters to you. Ready to tell your networks why? Sharing our “About” page with your own personal comments could really help us out.

You’re our superpower

Denverite members have made the decision to financially support local journalism that matters to you. Ready to tell your networks why? Sharing our “About” page with your own personal comments could really help us out.