PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) — Protesters took to the streets in almost every state on Tuesday — including Oregon — to push for fundamental rights for women.
Dozens of advocacy groups want to put a stop to several recently passed part or near-total bans on abortion in states like Alabama and Missouri.
Hundreds gathered at Terry D. Schrunk Plaza at noon for the “#StopTheBans” rally. Attorney General Ellen Rosenblum spoke at the event organized by NARAL Pro-Choice Oregon.
Rallies are also taking place in Hillsboro, Vancouver, Salem, Eugene, Bend, Medford, Corvallis and Newport.
Watch: Abortion Rights rally in Portland
The pro-choice organizations say the near-total abortion bans are an effort to overturn Roe v. Wade, the 1973 landmark Supreme Court decision that legalized abortion nationwide.
Recently, Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey signed the most stringent abortion law in the nation — making performing an abortion a felony in nearly all cases unless necessary for the mother’s health. The law doesn’t provide exceptions for rape and incest.
“Banning abortion does not stop abortion. It stops safe abortion,” Staci Fox, CEO and president of Planned Parenthood Southeast, previously said.
Governors in Kentucky, Ohio and Georgia have approved bans on abortion once a fetal heartbeat is detected, which can happen as early as the sixth week of pregnancy. Missouri’s governor is expected to sign an 8-week abortion ban into law by Friday.
The Associated Press contributed to this report