A group of women gathered to protest outside the US consulate in Auckland today, to condemn the overturning of the Roe versus Wade ruling, which had guaranteed women access to abortion.
Photo: RNZ/Melania Watson
The constitutional right to an abortion in America was lost after the the 50-year-old decision was overturned last month.
The group signed a copy of the New Zealand abortion legislation, which decriminalised abortion after 40 years of it being considered a crime, and delivered it to the US Consulate.
The protesters said today - the 4th of July - was not a day for celebration.
Karen Schmid left the United States 18 years ago but said her heart bled for those back home.
"The government seems to be serving its own purposes versus the will of the people."
The women also called for the resignation of New Zealand MP Simon O'Connor after a social media post celebrating the US Supreme Court's striking down of the US Roe v Wade ruling.
Photo: RNZ/Melania Watson
Protester Kerry Sorensen-Tyrer said they want O'Connor to step down as Tāmaki MP.
"We need people in parliament who are for human rights, and women's rights are human rights."
Sorensen-Tyrer said O'Connor was supposed to be the voice for the people within his electorate.
Laura Hauser said she was angry and frustrated.
"Movements like this give me hope for the future. We just have to keep talking about this, that's how we will get change."
Hauser called on the men of Aotearoa to stand with the wāhine to protest. She was looking forward to an even bigger turnout later in the month at the next protest at Aotea Square.
"Every women has the right to make choices about their own body."
Photo: RNZ/Melania Watson
Jess Loudon said the Supreme Court ruling did not reflect the general views of the population in the US, which was troubling.
"It is a slippery slope, these are dangerous conservative views that impact the freedom and liberty of women all over the world."
Loudon said women of colour would suffer disproportionately as a result.
"Many do not have access to healthcare and so are at risk of infection, or death. This is an insidious attack on minorities."
She said it was appalling that a rapist would face a lesser penalty than a woman trying to abort a baby which was the product of rape.
"If you are someone celebrating independence day today you are celebrating the subjugation of women and the destruction of democracy that the founding fathers wanted to create, and that's un-American in my opinion."
The women said they would continue to fight.