Hundreds rally in Brisbane CBD over US Supreme Court Roe v Wade decision

Nearly 1000 people have marched through Brisbane’s CBD, protesting the US Supreme Court’s shock overturning of America’s landmark abortion case Roe v Wade.

Hundreds of people have gathered in Brisbane’s King George Square to protest after the United States Supreme Court overturned the landmark Roe V Wade abortion ruling.

The crowd, numbering near 1000, gathered around 5.30pm on Friday to protest an “outrageous attack on women” and to stand in solidarity with the millions of American women who have “lost their reproductive rights”.

A Facebook event for the rally urged attendees to “to rally against the bigots and demand abortion rights everywhere, safe, free and on demand!”

Chants including “they say no choice, we say pro-choice” and “abortion is a human right- we are all here to fight” were heard around the square throughout the peaceful protest.

Protesters pictured at King George Square on Friday night. Picture: Josh Woning)

Protesters heard from a number of prominent Queensland women, including State Greens MP Amy MacMahon and a number of union representatives.

The action was supported by Children by Choice, Cheek Media, One Woman Project and March4Justice.

Following the gathering in King George Square, attendees then proceeded on a planned march through Edward, Adelaide, Mary and George streets.

Police have confirmed that there have been no reported incidents during the protest and officers are facilitating the march.

“I have a son and I currently don’t want anymore and I like the fact that I do have a choice on when and whenever I decide I want a baby,” one protester said.

“A lot of women are going to die and a lot of kids that already have parents, they’re going to lose their mothers,” she said

“I just wanted to show solidarity with everyone coming out here because I think it’s really easy to forget but even in Queensland it’s only been a few years since abortion was decriminalised here so the fight is definitely not over,” another protester said

Roe V Wade, the landmark 1973 ruling by the US Supreme Court that the Constitution of the United States generally protected a women’s liberty to choose to have an abortion was sensationally overturned earlier this week, drawing condemnation from a number of international leaders.

Protesters at King George Square in Brisbane’s CBD. Picture: Josh Woning

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and French President Emmanuel Macron have both criticised the ruling, along with Australian Education Minister Jason Clare, who said he was thankful that abortion was not an issue that divided the Australian Labor and Liberal parties.

“I’m thinking at the moment for the women who live in some of those states that will be basically being told today that if you want to have an abortion, then get on a bus and travel a couple of 100 kilometres,” he told Sky News.

While there is no constitutional right in Australia allowing women to access abortions, Deputy Liberal Leader Sussan Ley said that she agreed with former US President Bill Clinton, a Democrat, in saying “abortion should be safe, legal and rare”.

Australia’s abortion laws are the subject of state based legislation, with variations between jurisdictions.