Warnings Raised Of Violent Protests Against Roe Reversal
As protests and marches happen across the country, law enforcement officials are also expecting violent unrest. And tall fences have been erected around the Supreme Court building. Media outlets also cover how Hollywood and corporate America are responding to the news.
Politico:
Law Enforcement Officials Brace For Potential Violence Around SCOTUS Draft Opinion
Law enforcement officials across the country are preparing for unrest in the wake of the Supreme Court’s anticipated reversal of Roe v. Wade. On Wednesday, more than 150 officials nationwide joined a call to discuss concerns about growing threats in the wake of the news, including potential danger to Supreme Court justices. The National Fusion Center Association, representing dozens of intelligence-sharing hubs around the country, hosted the call, which included state and local law enforcement officials along with officials from the FBI and Department of Homeland Security. The call focused on threats that have metastasized in the wake of POLITICO’s publication of an initial draft opinion that indicates the Supreme Court could overturn federal abortion protections, according to two people on the call who described it to POLITICO. (Swan, 5/5)
ABC News:
High Fence Erected Outside Supreme Court As Abortion-Related Protests Continue
An imposing, "unscalable" eight-foot-high fence has been erected at the U.S. Supreme Court in the wake of protests over a bombshell draft opinion on abortion. ... The protests outside the court's marble front steps have been largely peaceful, prompting some to question why the new security barrier -- reminiscent of the unscalable fencing placed around the U.S. Capitol after the violence of Jan. 6, 2021 -- is necessary. (Hutzler, 5/5)
Salt Lake Tribune:
Utahns March In SLC In Support Of Roe V. Wade
Hundreds of Utahns – mostly teenagers and young adults – attended a rally Thursday afternoon on the steps of the state Capitol in response to news that the U.S. Supreme Court may restrict abortion access. The speakers, some of whom were as young as 16, emphasized the importance of bodily autonomy and supporting Utahns in making their own decisions in their lives, while others shared their personal stories about abortion and sexual assault. “The power is with us,” not the courts, one speaker said to a cheering crowd. (Jacobs, 5/6)
Newsweek:
Roe V. Wade Protesters Are Mailing Coat Hangers To The Supreme Court
Abortion-rights advocates are sending coat hangers to the Supreme Court after a leaked document indicated a majority of the justices plan to overturn the landmark 1973 Roe v. Wade ruling, which effectively legalized access to abortions across the U.S. After the draft document leaked earlier this week, many people took to social media platforms and forums, including TikTok and Reddit, in which they claimed to have sent coat hangers to the high court in Washington D.C. (Anglesey, 5/5)
Newsweek:
Writers Guild Asks Hollywood Not To Film In States That Ban Abortions
The Writers Guild of America West (WGAW) has urged Hollywood not to shoot films and TV shows in states that ban abortions. The guild's announcement came after a draft Supreme Court opinion leaked on Monday revealed that the court's majority was prepared to overturn Roe v. Wade. "In light of the leaked Supreme Court draft opinion on abortion rights, we want to reaffirm our Guild's commitment to fighting on our members' behalf against inequality and discrimination," the labor union said on Twitter Wednesday. WGAW represents writers in film, television, radio and internet programming. (Bartov, 5/5)
And reaction from Latinos who are against abortion —
NBC News:
Anti-Abortion Latinos Look Forward To Future Without Roe V. Wade
The leak of a draft Supreme Court opinion that would overturn Roe v. Wade, the landmark law that legalized abortion nationwide, has emboldened Latinos who are fighting to end abortions in the U.S. "It gives me a lot of hope. ... This is the way that I was hoping it would go," said Maria Oswalt, 27, of Rehumanize International, a nonprofit organization that opposes abortion. “It was shocking, in a good way, to see that the opinion was very unapologetically overturning Roe V. Wade." (Acevedo and Sesin, 5/6)
How corporations are responding —
Bloomberg:
Marco Rubio Targets Citi, Amazon With Bill On Abortion-Travel Benefits
Senator Marco Rubio is sending a message to Amazon Inc., The Walt Disney Co., Citigroup Inc. and other U.S. companies that have vowed to pay travel costs for their employees to access abortion services or gender-affirming care for their children: Republicans want to make it more expensive. The Florida Republican, a potential contender for the GOP nomination in 2024, is proposing legislation that would prevent companies from writing off these costs for their employees and their families. The tax code generally allows companies to deduct their business costs, including employee health coverage and other benefits. (Davison and Ceron, 5/5)
Bloomberg:
Goldman, JPMorgan Weigh Covering Abortion Travel Amid Uproar
Goldman Sachs Group Inc. and JPMorgan Chase & Co. are discussing extending abortion benefits to cover travel after an internal debate was reignited this week by the leak of a draft Supreme Court ruling to overturn Roe v. Wade. The finance giants could follow the lead of Citigroup Inc. and pay travel expenses for employees seeking to end pregnancies away from states with restrictive abortion laws, according to people with knowledge of the discussions. Some senior leaders remain wary of the growing criticism by Republican lawmakers. (Natarajan and Abelson, 5/5)
Axios:
These Companies Are Helping Employees Access Abortions
Companies across the United States are announcing plans to help workers who live in states with abortion restrictions gain access to reproductive health care. A leaked U.S. Supreme Court draft ruling indicated that the court could soon overturn Roe v. Wade. Abortion would become illegal in at least 13 states if the Supreme Court overturns the decision, Axios' Oriana Gonzalez writes. (Scribner, 5/5)
