Responses in Springfield to the reversal of Roe v Wade include rallies and the return of the Illinois General Assembly.
Gov. JB Pritzker said Friday he will call a special session, apparently to address the abortion laws already in place and to counter further anticipated restrictions.
Monroe Street in front of the federal building was the scene for a “rapid response” rally put on by Springfield abortion rights advocates.
“We know that we need to build capacity in our state,” said Brigid Leahy (pictured), vice president of government relations for Planned Parenthood Illinois Action. “We need to expand the pool of providers to make sure there are enough health care professionals providing the health care, and we need to make sure there are resources available so providers have the capacity, and that they have the ability to get to the clinic where they need to go.”
It’s possible lawmakers will try to make it legal for abortion providers to practice in Illinois even after being penalized in other states. Another idea could be for the state to pay travel expenses for out-of-state abortion clients to come here to terminate a pregnancy.
An anti-abortion group rallies at the Capitol Saturday morning at 11.