Crowds gathered Friday evening in locations including downtown Sioux Falls and Rapid City to protest the U.S. Supreme Court's overturning of Roe v. Wade, the nearly 50-year-old legal precedent that protected the right to an abortion.
In downtown Sioux Falls, former legislator Casey Murschel was among those decrying the decision.
"This is devastating," Murschel said. "But my first reaction right now is deep sadness, deep grief for women out there who are left with extraordinary kinds of alternatives to unwanted pregnancies who may not have an alternative at all if they can't travel out of South Dakota. And what we risk is just what others have said, and that is self-induced or less safe kinds of abortion."
Susan Kroger, co-founder of LEAD South Dakota, predicted "this isn't the end."
"This is actually just the beginning," Kroger said. "As we mentioned in the march or in the vigil, this case is based on the right to privacy and this is just the beginning of rights that are going to be stripped away from Americans. So the LGBT community needs to be on the lookout, anyone who uses contraception — that this is just the beginning of the loss of privacy for so many people."
Amy Kelley is a doctor who specializes in pediatric and adolescent gynecology, family planning and multiple births.
"I think the bottom line is, who gets to decide?" Kelley said. "Does a woman and her family get to decide, or does the government? And I think when you put it that way, I think that's where a lot of anger comes in. Those of us that have been pregnant, have given birth, we know that it's not just a benign little walk in the park. And when you want a baby, it's fabulous. When you really cannot have a baby because of medical reasons or financial, emotional, whatever the reason, it's not a walk in the park."
Kadyn Wittman is a candidate for the South Dakota House of Representatives in District 15.
"Now is the time to really lean in, start to find candidates that align with your values, support them in any way you can, whether that's monetary, volunteering your time," Wittman said. "Contact your current elected representatives. Let them know how you're feeling and bring your rage with you to the ballot box in November."
At a protest in downtown Rapid City, Heather Herbaugh-Abourezk said she’s concerned by language from Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas that suggests looking at other precedents, including those affecting birth control and same-sex marriage.
“This is just, like, one domino in a long line that they have coming. We just have to take a stand somewhere and hope that sticks and hope that we can stop the momentum they’ve built.”
