(Montreal) Hundreds of protesters across the province expressed their outrage on Sunday following the reversal of the Roe v. Wade decision by the United States Supreme Court, invalidating the right to abortion.
Posted at 2:07 p.m.
Despite the oppressive heat, many people were in front of the courthouse in Montreal, brandishing signs with inscriptions such as “My body, my final choice stick” or “Autonomy for all”.
A protester had dressed up as a character from the series The Handmaid’s Tale and carried a sign that read “this is no longer fiction”.
PHOTO PHILIPPE BOIVIN, THE PRESS
Demonstration in front of the courthouse in Montreal
The Quebec Federation for Planned Births (FQPN) organized Sunday’s event with other partners. Their objectives are to show their support for women in the United States and to denounce the rise of the anti-abortion movement in Quebec.
“It’s a message of solidarity with American women and people who will now be forced to take action against unwanted pregnancies, but it’s also a message of solidarity with Quebec women who are pro-choice to be together. and to mobilize against the cultural anti-choice movement”, indicates the co-coordinator of the FQPN and responsible for the abortion file, Jess Legault.
PHOTO PHILIPPE BOIVIN, THE PRESS
Demonstration in front of the courthouse in Montreal
Québec solidaire (QS) MP Manon Massé was on hand at the Montreal Courthouse to show her support for the pro-choice movement.
These dictators of our bodies must understand that they have absolutely no legitimacy to do this. This battle in the United States is a step back, and we have to be careful, we have to be there and keep our eyes open, because women’s rights are always fragile.
Manon Massé, MNA for Québec solidaire
She believes that the rights of women and minorities are constantly in danger. “With Roe v. Wade, it’s not just women’s rights that will ”eat the slap”, it’s also the rights of sexual minorities, it’s also the right to contraception. I would not say that we are threatened, but the danger is always underlying, ”said Manon Massé.
Demonstrators present also fear that the decision of the Supreme Court in the United States will have repercussions on our side of the border. “I am enraged, indignant and I do not want Canada or Quebec to back down. It’s 50 years back,” said Monique Lauzière, who was present at the Montreal demonstration.
Josée Desrosiers, who was part of the crowd, agrees. “Are there any laws to control men’s bodies? No, there isn’t,” she says indignantly.
She believes that since the election of Donald Trump, in the United States, it boded badly for women’s rights. “Now he has left his mark,” she says.
Mme Desrosiers is also concerned about gay rights, contraception, interracial marriages and women’s rights. “If there is something established, and they are able to back down like that, what protects us from the other things that are acquired”, raises Mme Lauziere.