More than 3,000 people participated in 49 minutes of civil disobedience to mark 49 years since the decision of Roe v. Wade and the end of constitutional protections for abortion since 1973, Friday evening.
The rally began at 5 p.m. at the Philip Burton Federal Building, followed by a march to Market Street, and a sit-in at the intersection with Hyde Street.
The 49 minutes of civil disobedience commenced by protesting the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision to overturn Roe v. Wade. This was immediately followed by protesters marching east on Market Street toward The Embarcadero and to the Ferry Building.
According to the California Highway Patrol, at around 6:45 p.m., protesters made their way to Highway 101 at the Octavia Street entrance. Authorities were able to guide around 200 to 300 demonstrators off the freeway and back into the city streets.
Rallies in Oakland, San Jose, and San Mateo are also happening Friday evening, where activists rallied for reproductive rights after news broke of the Supreme Court’s decision.
“This is not the time to be silent,” said Diane Papan, San Mateo’s deputy mayor, who organized this rally. “We are going to merge, organize, donate, vote.”
“There is a coordinated right-wing extremist attack on women. There is going to be potentially an attack on LGBTQ individuals,” said Assemblymember Kevin Mullin, who represents San Mateo and Redwood City in the 22nd Assembly District.
Rally attendees held posters reading “Justices lied, now women will die” and “I Love Pro-Choice California”, also shouting “our bodies our rights.”
