Tear gas used to disperse protesters outside Arizona Capitol building, officials say

Authored by edition.cnn.com and submitted by brownbranch76

(CNN) After the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade on Friday, holding that there is no longer a federal constitutional right to an abortion, protesters and supporters of the ruling gathered at the high court's building in Washington, DC, and in other cities nationwide.

Similar demonstrations are planned across the country over the weekend, according to CNN's research. Organizations like Planned Parenthood, Bans Off Our Bodies and Women's March are among the groups organizing the events.

Late Friday, law enforcement in Arizona used tear gas to disperse a crowd of abortion rights supporters protesting outside the State Capitol in Phoenix.

"Troopers deployed tear gas after a crowd of protesters repeatedly pounded on the glass doors of the State Senate Building," Arizona Department of Public Safety spokesperson Bart Graves told CNN.

CNN asks women outside of Supreme Court about ruling.

CNN asks women outside of Supreme Court about ruling. 01:21

The crowd then moved across the street to the Wesley Bolin Plaza, where police used the tear gas after a monument was vandalized, Graves said.

"While working inside we were interrupted by the sound of bangs and smell of tear gas," Arizona State Rep. Sarah Liguori, a Democrat, tweeted from inside the building. She added: "Protestors cleared from the Capitol."

Arizona State Troopers deploy tear gas as they confront protestors outside the Capitol building.

The demonstrations come after several Arizona abortion providers said they preemptively paused abortion services due to lack of legal clarity on the matter, according to posts on their websites.

Arizona State Rep. Justin Wilmeth, a Republican, tweeted that the legislators were working on a couple of policy items when they heard the protesters.

"As I heard it, some either banged on Senate windows or broke them and then DPS launched smoke bombs to disperse the crowds. Pure chaos for a bit," Wilmeth tweeted.

Photos: Americans react after Supreme Court overturns Roe v. Wade Anti-abortion and abortion-rights demonstrators rally in front of the Supreme Court in Washington, DC, on Saturday. Hide Caption 1 of 28 Photos: Americans react after Supreme Court overturns Roe v. Wade Robin Gwak chants in front of the Supreme Court building on Saturday following the overturning of Roe v Wade. Hide Caption 2 of 28 Photos: Americans react after Supreme Court overturns Roe v. Wade Two pro-life activists brought a large wooden cross for a prayer near the Supreme Court on Saturday in Washington, DC. Hide Caption 3 of 28 Photos: Americans react after Supreme Court overturns Roe v. Wade Protesters march around Los Angeles City Hall over the Supreme Court's decision to overturn Roe V Wade. Hide Caption 4 of 28 Photos: Americans react after Supreme Court overturns Roe v. Wade Supporters and opponents of abortion rights protest outside the Supreme Court in Washington, DC, on Saturday, June 25. Hide Caption 5 of 28 Photos: Americans react after Supreme Court overturns Roe v. Wade Abortion rights activists pound on the doors of the Arizona State Senate late Friday, June 24. Law enforcement used tear gas to disperse the crowd. Hide Caption 6 of 28 Photos: Americans react after Supreme Court overturns Roe v. Wade Demonstrators gather at the Utah State Capitol on Friday. Hide Caption 7 of 28 Photos: Americans react after Supreme Court overturns Roe v. Wade Anti-abortion protesters celebrate outside the US Supreme Court in Washington, DC, on Friday. Hide Caption 8 of 28 Photos: Americans react after Supreme Court overturns Roe v. Wade An abortion rights activist protests outside the Supreme Court on Friday. Hide Caption 9 of 28 Photos: Americans react after Supreme Court overturns Roe v. Wade Abortion rights supporters gather for a demonstration outside the Supreme Court on Friday. Hide Caption 10 of 28 Photos: Americans react after Supreme Court overturns Roe v. Wade From left, an abortion rights activist and an anti-abortion demonstrator argue outside of the Supreme Court. Hide Caption 11 of 28 Photos: Americans react after Supreme Court overturns Roe v. Wade Socks that read "abortion is mean" are worn by an anti-abortion activist outside of the Supreme Court on Friday. Hide Caption 12 of 28 Photos: Americans react after Supreme Court overturns Roe v. Wade Anti-abortion campaigners celebrate outside the Supreme Court. Hide Caption 13 of 28 Photos: Americans react after Supreme Court overturns Roe v. Wade Journalists cover the Supreme Court decision on Friday, in Washington, DC. Hide Caption 14 of 28 Photos: Americans react after Supreme Court overturns Roe v. Wade Abortion rights advocates hug outside the Supreme Court on Friday. Hide Caption 15 of 28 Photos: Americans react after Supreme Court overturns Roe v. Wade An demonstrator shouts anti-abortion slogans through a megaphone outside the Supreme Court on Friday. Hide Caption 16 of 28 Photos: Americans react after Supreme Court overturns Roe v. Wade Jill McElroy, center, and her 9-year-old daughter Meriam participate in an abortion rights demonstration outside the Supreme Court. "A lesson we have always taught our children is they are the bosses of their own bodies," McElroy told CNN photographer Sarah Silbiger. "The Court's decision today goes against that, and as a family, we think that's wrong." Hide Caption 17 of 28 Photos: Americans react after Supreme Court overturns Roe v. Wade An anti-abortion demonstrator reacts to the ruling on Friday, in Washington, DC. Hide Caption 18 of 28 Photos: Americans react after Supreme Court overturns Roe v. Wade Amanda Herring, left, poses for a portrait with the words "not yet a human" written on her pregnant belly during an abortion rights demonstration in front of the Supreme Court on Friday. Herring, who is Jewish, told CNN that her religion has helped shape her views on abortion. "Judaism says that life begins with the first breath, that is when the soul enters the body," she said. Hide Caption 19 of 28 Photos: Americans react after Supreme Court overturns Roe v. Wade Anti-abortion activists demonstrate in Washington, DC, on Friday. Hide Caption 20 of 28 Photos: Americans react after Supreme Court overturns Roe v. Wade A woman creates an abortion rights poster on Friday in Washington, DC. Hide Caption 21 of 28 Photos: Americans react after Supreme Court overturns Roe v. Wade A tear rolls down the cheek of an abortion rights activist in Washington, DC on Friday. Moments after the ruling was announced, the woman took to a bullhorn to share her experience with sexual assault. She used the public forum to share she would have taken her own life if she had become pregnant and not had access to reproductive health care. Hide Caption 22 of 28 Photos: Americans react after Supreme Court overturns Roe v. Wade Journalists photograph reactions outside the Supreme Court on Friday. Hide Caption 23 of 28 Photos: Americans react after Supreme Court overturns Roe v. Wade People gather in front of the Supreme Court after it overturned Roe v. Wade on Friday. Hide Caption 24 of 28 Photos: Americans react after Supreme Court overturns Roe v. Wade Anti-abortion demonstrators celebrate with champagne in front of the Supreme Court. Hide Caption 25 of 28 Photos: Americans react after Supreme Court overturns Roe v. Wade Abortion rights protestors embrace outside the Supreme Court on Friday. Hide Caption 26 of 28 Photos: Americans react after Supreme Court overturns Roe v. Wade Noah Slayter, right, demonstrates with fellow anti-abortion activists in front of the Supreme Court on Friday. "I was here right when the decision was delivered," said Slayter. "I am ecstatic. I was walking on air earlier." Hide Caption 27 of 28 Photos: Americans react after Supreme Court overturns Roe v. Wade "Our bodies our choices" is spray painted on a temporary wall in Washington, DC, on Friday. Hide Caption 28 of 28

Protests took place outside the Supreme Court

In the nation's capital, one person led protesters in front of the Supreme Court in a chant of "Hands off! Hands off!" and a call-and-response of "My body! My choice!"

One woman told CNN affiliate WJLA that the decision was an outrage.

"It's illegitimate. Abortion bans are illegitimate," the woman said. "Forced motherhood is illegitimate."

Protesters asked those in attendance to donate to abortion advocates and purchase abortion pills to distribute to others.

Abortion rights opponents were also present in front of the Supreme Court. After the decision came down, a man -- standing amid placards including the messages "Roe is dead" and "I am the post-Roe generation" -- sprayed champagne in the air above others who were celebrating. There were several dozen abortion-rights opponents at the site during the afternoon, but it appeared they had filtered out of the crowd by evening.

In New York's Greenwich Village, thousands of people marched and chanted in the streets. One of the chants directed the f-word at Justice Brett Kavanaugh. There were some anti-abortion activists at the march, but they were keeping a low profile and there were no confrontations seen by the CNN crew walking with the protesters.

Demonstrators in Los Angeles clogged the 110 freeway as it passed through downtown, blocking traffic. While abortion will remain legal in California, the protesters said they were showing their concern and support for women in other states.

In Atlanta, several hundred people in two different demonstrations merged and gathered in front of the Capitol. Almost all the people were protesting the decision. A CNN crew saw one counter-protester where one group began its march a few miles away.

JUST WATCHED Hear vow from anti-abortion activist after ruling Replay More Videos ... MUST WATCH Hear vow from anti-abortion activist after ruling 01:44

In Texas, a large crowd gathered in front of a federal courthouse in downtown Austin. People took to a microphone to tell stories, many of fear and frustration. Some carried signs, including one that said "Pro-life is a lie, they don't care if we die."

In Washington, DC, an abortion rights activist climbed to the top of the Frederick Douglass Memorial Bridge, which was subsequently shut down. Guido Reichstadter posted videos and photos of himself on social media from the top of the bridge, where he unfurled a large green banner. Green is recognized as a symbol of abortion rights.

Reichstadter also planted a flag on the bridge that read "Don't tread on my uterus."

He told CNN while many people in the US oppose the Supreme Court's decision, their support is largely passive, which he says is not enough to ensure women have access to abortions across the country.

GoodtimesSans on June 26th, 2022 at 07:45 UTC »

Government: Violence isn't the answer!

Uses Violence against the people.

Torgosassistant2021 on June 26th, 2022 at 07:18 UTC »

Was a politician trying to take a picture with a bible in front of the capitol building?

EmmyWeeeb on June 26th, 2022 at 05:56 UTC »

They did it in downtown LA after 30min of just people walking and protesting. They also started to tackle and arrest people.