They descended on downtown Raleigh from all walks of life; from 20-somethings to more senior demonstrators like Betty Lazo, who has been fighting the battles over abortion in America for decades.
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"I'm 90 years old," said Lazo who was on the frontlines of the 1970s protests to legalize abortion in the run-up to Roe vs. Wade. On Tuesday night, with Roe on the ropes -- Lazo was marching again.
"It's always worth it to stand up for what you believe. And I believe women should have control of their own bodies," Lazo said.
With Raleigh police blocking downtown streets, marchers circled several blocks. It was a peaceful march dotted with a few dust-ups with anti-abortion advocates -- who were quickly shouted down.
"I felt I had to make my voice heard as somebody who believes this is the wrong decision and that it will take us backwards and endanger lives; maternal lives, fetal lives, all kinds of lives," said Beth Mann, a nursing student from Durham.
Alayna Moore, a Wilmington-born undergrad at NC State is just 20 years old. Federally-legalized abortion became the law of the land three decades before she was even born.
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"It's crazy (to think a protest like this is necessary)," Moore said. "It's really disappointing. But it's powerful to be out here, too."
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At one point the march stopped outside the state capitol.
"Defend abortion. Today. Tomorrow!" demonstrators chanted in a symbolic message to lawmakers.
"It's a message to the people on Jones Street. And it's a message to those in Congress that they need to protect a woman's right to choose," said Dianna Wynn from Cary.
There could be several immediate effects on North Carolina if Roe is overturned. There wouldn't be an immediate abortion ban here. But, a state law banning abortion after 20 weeks would likely be allowed to take effect. It had been struck down because it violated Roe vs. Wade.