- November 23, 2024
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"The overturning of Roe v. Wade is taking away of women's fundamental rights for privacy and autonomy over their own bodies," Deltona City Commissioner Dana McCool said. "We've stepped back 50 years." Photo by Michele Meyers
Daytona Beach resident Diane (left) gathered with fellow protestors to fight the Supreme Court justices' decision to overturn Roe v Wade. Photo by Michele Meyers
"It's a sad day for woman of all ages," said Tracey Nicholson, of Port Orange. "The grandmothers are mad. The mamas are mad and now the young women are going to stand up too. It's not a good day for women." Photo by Michele Meyers
Deltona Commissioner Dana McCool wore a T-shirt referring to the "Florida Heartbeat Act" filed by Representative Webster Barnaby. Photo by Michele Meyers
"We believe that a woman's right to choose is a fundamental part of healthcare," Taylor Young, of New Smyrna Beach said. "We are here to demand free abortions, on demand and legal." Photo by Michele Meyers
"My body. My choice. Pro life, that's a lie. You don't care if people die," protest organizer and Ormond Beach resident Celina Cormier chanted. Photo by Michele Meyers
"It's heartbreaking. It's scary. The only thing we can do is show everybody that we are not alone. Give everybody a voice to be heard," said Celina Cormier, protest organizer and Ormond Beach resident . Photo by Michele Meyer
Protestors gathered at the intersection of Beach Street and International Speedway Boulevard to rally for women's rights. Photo by Michele Meyers
"This country is becoming a terrifying place," Port Orange resident Miranda Hill said. "To know that we are being treated like livestock instead of like human beings, it scares the crap out of me." Photo by Michele Meyers
Women's rights protestors met in Daytona Beach to fight the Supreme Court justices' decision to overturn Roe v Wade. Photo by Michele Meyers
"It's appalling. Why should women have less rights than me? Women have one right — to vote," 17-year-old Adam Evans of Deltona said. Proud mother Mandy Evans cried every time she thought about the decision. Photo by Michele Meyers
"It makes us feel like we are going backwards but I don't even think we are going back to the 1950s," said Holly Hill resident Kaya Kaminski. "We are heading somewhere worse than that." Photo by Michele Meyers
"As a mixed, gay woman, all of my rights are being taken away," Daytona Beach resident Octavia Allen said. Photo by Michele Meyers
"It's horrible for women to lose autonomy over their bodies along with the rest of the rights we are probably going to lose, like gay rights," Daytona Beach resident Sai Reyes said.
"People of color are always disproportionately affected. It's just devastating for this whole entire country," Daytona Beach resident Sai Reyes said. Photo by Michele Meyers
Local residents gathered in Dayton Beach to protest the Supreme Court justices' decision to overturn Roe v. Wade. Photo by Michele Meyers
"Horrible," Diane said. "A nightmare. Unbelievable. It cannot be. It brings me to tears. These men think they can come in and strip us. Our freedoms are being slowly chipped away. It has got stop."Photo by Michele Meyers
"It's sickening," Jaelyn Jenkins said. "Not only is this going to affect the lives of women but trans people, black people, gay people. This is just the blueprint of what they are going to try to overturn." Photo by Michele Meyers
Protestor 19-year-old Jaelyn Jenkins is supported by her brothers, Izaiah and Savien Jenkins. Photo by Michele Meyers
Jaelyn Jenkins reacted to negative comments from passersby. Photo by Michele Meyers
"This is a war on women, on our bodies. Sex and abortion should not be a class privilege. Women of color are dying at 4 or 5 times higher rates than white women. This is not a democracy any more," Jessica Anderson cried.
"This is the first step in going backwards," Jaelyn Jenkins of Daytona Beach said. "This is opening the door for them to overturn interracial marriage, same-sex marriage, same-sex sex." Photo by Michele Meyers
"It takes away the choice," Ormond Beach resident Rosie Perry said. "Even if a woman is pro life, that's her choice. It's no one's business but hers what she chooses to do." Photo by Michele Meyers
Daytona Beach resident Octavia Allen sang "Quiet" by Milck during the protest. Photo by Michele Meyers
Sexual health educator and victims' advocate Erica Rivera of Flagler Beach is worried how the decision will impact women's healthcare. Photo by Michele Meyers
"People are focusing on abortion when it's going to impact healthcare overall," Erica Rivera said. "We need to look at the big picture." Photo by Michele Meyers
Sierra Lebo hugged a fellow protestor after she thanked everyone for their support. Photo by Michele Meyers
“My body, my choice!” rang out on the megaphone as protestors participated in a collaborative chant with event organizer Celina Cormier.
The protest was organized by the Ormond Beach resident in response to the United States Supreme Court’s ruling to overturn Roe v. Wade on Friday, June 24.
“It’s heartbreaking,” Cormier said. “It’s scary.The only thing we can do is show everybody that they are not alone. Give everybody a voice to be heard. Women have been fighting for this for centuries, and we are going to have to keep fighting. I’m okay with that.”
Speakers used the event as a platform to voice their concerns and to support one another in the fight for women’s rights.
Flagler Beach resident Erica Rivera spoke to the crowd about the impact the decision will have on women’s healthcare beyond abortion. From a sexual health educator and victims’ advocate standpoint, she expressed concern regarding the effect it could have on women who experience miscarriages and the psychological effect it could have on women that no longer have access to abortion or medications and procedures used for underlying medical conditions.
“People are focusing on abortion when it’s going to impact healthcare overall,” she said. “There are marginalized women who may not be able to afford crossing borders to get an abortion, which can result in higher risk for them as far as maternal mortality rates.”
Seventeen-year-old Adams Charles Evans and his mother, Mandy Evans, were a united front at the protest. The teen credits his mother’s support for his passion to fight for human rights. He said he is appalled by the lack of equality afforded women. The Evans both believe that the overturning of Roe v. Wade will affect everyone.
“I am so proud of him,” she said. “It’s a shame that I am going to have more rights in my lifetime than my grandchildren and my great grandchildren.”
