Pro-life, pro-choice supporters rally in Chicago as Supreme Court debates Mississippi's abortion ban
CHICAGO - Protesters gathered outside the United States Supreme Court Wednesday as justices heard arguments on Mississippi's 15-week abortion ban.
It seems the conservative majority is leaning towards upholding the ban.
Meanwhile, there were protests in Chicago.
A pro-life rally took place at Federal Plaza around noon.
"We are going to pray that the Supreme Court makes the courageous holy decision," said Father Thomas Loya, with Annunciation Byzantine Catholic Church.
Those attending the pro-life rally called for the Supreme Court to uphold the Mississippi law that would ban abortions after 15 weeks, which could have some big consequences for Roe v Wade from 1973.
Under Roe, abortions are legal until about 24 weeks, which the Supreme Court ruled is when a fetus could survive outside the womb. If the court upholds the Mississippi law, it wouldn’t make abortion illegal, but would give the green light for other states to follow suit.
"Abortion takes away a life, takes away everything. If we truly want equality justice in this country, all those that do I encourage you to join us and uniting against abortion that takes away our most precious right – our right to life," said Congressman Dan Lipinski.
A pro-choice rally was held later in the day, also at Federal Plaza.
"I’ve never been so frightened or so furious," said Jennifer Welch the CEO of Planned Parenthood of Illinois. "The Supreme court seems prepared to disregard 50 years of settled law and the right to abortion which is guaranteed in our courts."
The Supreme Court is 6-3, conservative. The last three justices were appointed by former President Donald Trump.
"It's clear that this case was made because the new justices are there," said Stephen Caliendo, the Dean of College of Arts and Sciences at North Central College. "What's it going to do to the long term legitimacy of the court as a whole?"
The Supreme Court will not likely make a decision on the case until the summer.