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FARGO — Abortion rights advocates in North Dakota are planning to hold more rallies across the state in their continuing fight against the U.S. Supreme Court’s ruling that overturned Roe v. Wade.
The rallies will be held Saturday, July 9, in Fargo, Bismarck and Minot, according to a news release from the ACLU of North Dakota.
The Fargo rally will take place outside Fargo City Hall from 6 to 7:30 p.m.
Earlier in the day, rallies are scheduled at the State Capitol building in Bismarck at 10 a.m., and at the Pride in the Inside event in downtown Minot, also at 10 a.m.
A “trigger” law passed by the North Dakota legislature in 2007 called for a ban on abortion in the state within 30 days if the U.S. Supreme Court overturned the landmark 1973 Roe v. Wade decision.
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The Court ruled Friday, June 24, in a 6-3 decision that abortion is not a constitutional right, and states may prohibit the procedure.
North Dakota Attorney General Drew Wrigley set off the 30-day countdown by certifying the decision, making abortion illegal in North Dakota on July 28.
The state law will make it a Class C felony for anyone to perform an abortion, unless a pregnant female performs an abortion on herself. Exceptions are allowed if the mother's life is in danger and in cases of rape or incest.
The July 9 rallies are supported by Planned Parenthood North Central States, ERA Now, Red River Women’s Clinic, ACLU of North Dakota, WIN Fund, North Dakota Women’s Network and Prairie Action North Dakota.
“We will be organizing supporters at the legislature and at the ballot box, making our voices heard every day until we all have the freedom in North Dakota to access the care we need without obstacles, shame, stigma or harassment,” said Kathrine Christensen, North Dakota state director for Planned Parenthood North Central States.
Cody Schuler, ACLU of North Dakota advocacy manager, said people must work together to ensure abortion care is available to anyone in need.
“Politicians in North Dakota may have just gotten the green light from the Supreme Court to enforce their cruel agenda, but we won’t give up without a fight,” Schuler said.
The Red River Women’s Clinic in Fargo, the state’s only abortion provider, filed a lawsuit Thursday, July 7, to try to block enforcement of the abortion ban.
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Clinic Director Tammi Kromenaker has announced plans to move the clinic across the Red River to Moorhead, as Minnesota does not have such a ban.
Kromenaker told The Forum on Thursday there will be no new information about the Moorhead location until they know their “end date” in North Dakota.
A GoFundMe fundraiser to support the clinic's move had raised nearly $940,000 as of Thursday afternoon.
